Dolcetto
⏳ Drinking Window
2023 - 2026
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
Charcuterie boards, pasta with meat sauce, roasted pork
✨ Technical Specifications
Scheid Vineyards' exploration of Italian varietals led them to plant Dolcetto in the unique microclimates of Monterey County. Originating from Italy's Piedmont region, where its name translates to 'little sweet one' in reference to the grape's low natural acidity rather than sweetness in the finished wine, Dolcetto thrives in the Salinas Valley. Here, the dramatic temperature swings—characterized by warm afternoon sun followed by chilly winds sweeping in from the deep Monterey Bay—allow the grapes to ripen fully while maintaining their characteristic dark berry flavors and soft, approachable tannins. Scheid crafts this wine to highlight its vibrant fruit profile, utilizing gentle fermentation and aging techniques to preserve its fresh, expressive character. It stands as a testament to Monterey's incredible climate diversity and the Scheid family's pioneering spirit in cultivating non-traditional varieties.
🍾 About the Producer
Established in 1972 by pioneer Al Scheid, Scheid Vineyards began as an ambitious viticultural venture in southern Monterey County, initially supplying fruit to major California wineries before evolving into a vertically integrated estate wine producer. Spanning more than 3,000 acres across a 70-mile expanse of the Salinas Valley—encompassing microclimates across the Monterey, Arroyo Seco, and Hames Valley AVAs—the estate leverages thermal diurnal shifts driven by maritime winds off Monterey Bay. Viticulture balances alluvial gravel, decomposed granite, and clay-loam soils across twelve distinct ranch sites, farmed under SIP Certified and Certified California Sustainable standards, with the winery fully powered by an onsite wind turbine. Winemaking prioritizes varietal clarity, tension, and texture across an eclectic portfolio, celebrated for vibrant Sauvignon Blanc Reserve, aromatic Viognier, racy Dry Riesling, and rare regional white bottlings such as Petit Manseng and Roussanne.
🍇 Grapes
Dolcetto