Vitis vinifera ‘Dolcetto’
‘No.3 – Dolcetto (85/3, or No. 85 of Mr. Busby’s 3rd or Montpelier collection). Black grape, very early ripe, sugary, generally very productive, but uncertain, yields an agreeably flavoured red wine of good body, but not of good colour. The clusters large, with round berries loosely [closely in errata] set. It is in very hot weather subject to disease or accident, called by gardeners “shanking off”, that is the stems, or portions of the stems, of the bunches become withered after the berries change colour, but before they are ripe. the latter in consequence remain quite acidic and unfit for wine, and usually but not always, drop off by the time the uninjured portions attain perfect maturity. Such of the damaged berries as remain should be carefully removed previously to crushing the grapes.’ [Maro p.22/1844].
Horticultural & Botanical History
Dolcetto is an Italian black wine grape, little known outside Italy. However, Australia is believed to be home to the oldest current plantings of Dolcetto with vines dating back to the 1860s [Clarke - Encyclopedia of Grapes p.86/2001, quoted in Wikipedia]. It is quite possible that these grapes came originally from Camden Park. No additional data from the contemporary literature.
History at Camden Park
Listed in all published catalogues [Vines for Wine only no.24/1843]. 85-3 is written after the name, i.e. no. 85 of Busby’s Montpelier collection, then housed at the Sydney Botanic Garden. For William Macarthur’s comments on this grape see the description.
This grape may have been imported directly from Italy. In an advertisement in The Sydney Morning Herald of Saturday 21st of June, 1845 offering vine cuttings for sale, ‘Dolcetto’ was described as originating from Po, and was priced at 20 shillings per 1000.
Notes
Published Jun 25, 2010 - 02:35 PM | Last updated Jul 21, 2011 - 11:40 AM
| Family | Vitaceae |
|---|---|
| Category | |
| Region of origin | Garden origin, probably Italy |
| Synonyms |
|
| Common Name | Grape, Wine Grape |
| Name in the Camden Park Record |
Dolcetto |
| Confidence level | high |