ogliani in the province of Cuneo is well known for its winemaking tradition and it can claim an ancient foundation for it. The community's most illustrious citizen was Luigi Einaudi, the first president of the Republic of Italy. A good Piedmontese, he still found time, despite his official duties, to keep his fingers on the pulse of his wine estate, situated in the vicinity of Dogliani.The town's name is derived from Doglia and Lano, which is a corruption of Janus or Giano, the Roman god par excellence, who was lord of the sky and of sunlight. Janus later assumed special powers as protector of the beginning and end of all things. According to legend, Janus visited the Langhe and stopped off at Dogliani, detained by the excellence of the local wine.
Dolcetto di Dogliani has long appeared on the tables of mere mortals, including some of the most illustrious of them. In 1369, the Marquesses of Saluzzo granted the citizens of Dogliani the right to dispose of their goods and exemption from taxes as well as from the obligation of military service. However, they imposed a tax "in wine'' to assure that their noble cellars would be supplied with good Dolcetto. Dolcetto di Dogliani was specifically mentioned for the first time in 1593 in a declaration titled "Orders for the Harvest." That document provides official confirmation that Dolcetto grapes were being grown at Dogliani even before the end of the 16th century.
For the vine dressers of the Langa Doglianese, it is sufficient that the history of their wine can be traced back 500 years, even if reliable historians and researchers argue that in some areas the grape was being grown around the year 1000.
