Native to the Piedmont region, but in the shadow of the more famous Nebbiolo grape, the Dolcetto grape consistently over-delivers. Purple and black bramble fruit, puckering black cherry flavours and a pretty floral lift of violet. It's both savoury and packed with punch. This bottle from Cellario was hand-harvested with half the grapes crushed by foot (I Love Lucy style!) and the other half only destemmed. The wine was then put in stainless steel and concrete tanks to ferment with native yeasts and minimal additions. The result is this cool and crunchy expression of Dolcetto with no shortage of black plum and pepper.

Ahh Piedmont, the stunning north-westerly region of Italy! Producing some of the most loved wines in the country, grape growing and winemaking is ingrained in the culture here, with a respected focus on quality. It's no surprise then, that the winemaking couple of Poderi Cellario are producing something really special out of the region. Fausto & Cinzia Cellario, come from the local hills around Carrù in Piedmont and share two philosophies in their winemaking. First, to grow and invest in only native grapes of the region (like Nebbiolo, Barbera, Dolcetto and Favorita). Second, to farm and make wine in the most sustainable and hands-off way possible. This means honest yet serious wines. The Cellario's organically farm 30ha of vineyards, including some of the most esteemed sites in the region such as Novello & Monforte and the well regarded Dolcetto-focussed, Dogliani DOCG. They fiercely stand behind local winemaking traditions. Which means only using indigenous yeasts and no new oak. They also add very little preservatives (if any) when bottling. Our hats go off to what this amazing couple are creating through their wines. Their passion, care, and attention to detail has resulted in honest, complex, and thought-provoking wines. A sense of gastronomic Piedmont poetry!