DOC area (also Dolceacqua) for red wine in the west of the Italian region of
Liguria. The zone includes all or part of the municipalities of Apricale, Baiardo, Calandria di Trucco, Camporosso, Castel Vittorio, Dolceacqua, Isolabona, Mortola Superiore, Perinaldo, Pigna, Rocchetta Nervina, San Biagio della Cima, Soldano, San Bartolomeo-Carletti, Ville, Calandri, San Lorenzo, San Bernardo, Sant'Antonio, Sealza, Villatella, Calvo-San Pancrazio, Torri, Vallebona, Vallecrosia Alta and Verrandi in the province of Imperia. Emperor
Napoleon Bonaparte (1769-1821) visited the castle of the Doria family in Dolceacqua in 1805 and was delighted with the wine, which was probably still sweet at the time. He even gave his hosts permission to give the wine its name (which was hardly ever used). The
terraced vineyards are situated on steep slopes up to 600 metres above sea level and are close to the French border.
The ruby red wine must contain at least 95% of the variety Rossese di Dolceacqua
(Tibouren). With an
alcohol content of 13% vol. and 12 months of maturation, it may call itself
Superiore. Additional geographical indications on the bottle label are possible. These are in the municipalities of
Camporosso: Luvaira, Migliarina, Pian del Vescovo, Tinceria, Monte Curto, Brunetti;
Dolceacqua: Arcagna, Tramontina, Morghe, Rosa, Pozzuolo, Armetta, Ruchin, Cian da Marchesa, Peverelli, San Martino;
Perinaldo: Curli, Savoia, Alpicella;
San Biagio della Cima: Posaù, Luvaira, Nouvilla, Berna, Buscarra, Garibaudo, Crovairola;
Soldano: Pini, Bramusa, Galeae, Beragna, Luvaira, Ferenghè, Foulavin, San Martino;
Vallecrosia: Santa Croce;
Ventimiglia: Piemattun, Roasso, Sette Camini.
