Country: Italy
Region: Piedmont
Appellation(s): Dolcetto di Diano d’Alba
Producer: Paolo Olivero
Founded: 1995
Annual Production: 1,250 cases
Farming: Sustainable
Paolo Olivero is a small farmer in the little hilltop village of Diano d’Alba, just north of Barolo. He
farms 5 hectares of vines and 6 hectares of hazelnut trees. His specialty in wine is producing
Dolcetto, but he does produce small quantities of Barbera, Nebbiolo, and Roero Arneis. The
Olivero family has produced wine on their property for four generations, but it wasn’t until after
Paolo finished oenology school and worked for another domaine in Diano d’Alba that he returned
home to lead the family domaine and bottle their wines.
The Dolcetto grape in particular is associated with Diano d’Alba and since 2005 has DOCG
status. Paolo’s Sorì Cristina vineyard produces a soft Dolcetto, with good structure and an elegant
balance. The Sorì Santa Lucia vineyard produces a more structured Dolcetto than the Cristina and
can be cellared for three to five years. The word “sorì” in the local dialect refers to a hilltop area
with good sun exposure that produces great wine. “Sorì” is a word that is therefore added to
historical names of vineyards to identify a superior terroir. Paolo’s Dolcetto is delicious,
straightforward, and an honest ambassador of this workhouse grape that the Piemontese drink daily
with their robust cuisine. The Sorì Cristina Dolcetto gets the award for the easiest drinking Dolcetto
in our portfolio.