Nicholas Altare took his family land in Dogliani and quietly made some of the appellation’s most pure-fruited, delicious wines.

For five generations, the Altare family has grown Dolcetto here; but it was Nicholas who could no longer bear selling their grapes, making his own wine in 2017. Importantly, he has no formal wine education – learning everything from his mentor, Barolo natural wine pioneer Principiano Ferdinando. He farms about 2.5 hectares organically, and everything is south-facing on a limestone-packed hill, San Luigi.

Nicholas’ work is rare in Dogliani, and a reference to Principiano’s approach: no green harvesting, fermentation with whole bunches, and wines completely untouched by oak in a radical push for freshness.

These are absolutely vivid, pure expressions of Dogliani that upend expectations for the appellation and its grape – all from a winemaker just 9 years in and barely 30 years old. It’s been thrilling to see this work evolve, and he’s pushed the lineup further in this release with his first vineyard selection bottling. 

Nicholas and his beautiful estate vineyard; photos via @altare_nicholas

2024 Nicholas Altare Dogliani DOCG Piedmont, $38
100% Dolcetto, fermented with whole berries in concrete and aged in stainless steel. A gently structured, elegant and fresh take on Dolcetto.

2024 Nicholas Altare San Luigi Dogliani DOCG, Piedmont, $45
100% Dolcetto, Nicholas' selection of his best grapes on San Luigi. Fermented with 100% whole bunches in concrete, aged in stainless steel. Darker fruited and a touch more structured than his other Dolcetto, yet still lifted and fresh for the appellation. Lovely wild herbs, tomato peel.

2024 Nicholas Altare Langhe DOC Nebbiolo, Piedmont, $53
100% Nebbiolo, also fermented with some whole bunches in concrete, aged in stainless steel. A fine-knit, very pretty expression of Nebbiolo's rose petal and blood orange aromatics.

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