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​Wines of Italy
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​DOCG - Controlled and Guaranteed Designation of Origin Italian Quality Label
DOCG (Controlled and Guaranteed Designation of Origin) is a label granted to wines that have been recognized DOC wines for at least 5 years, of "particular quality value" and known at a national and international level. These wines undergo stricter controls, must be sold in bottles with a capacity of less than 5 liters, and bear a State label guaranteeing their origin and quality, as well as giving the possibility to number the bottles.
DOC - Controlled Designation of Origin Italian Quality Label
​After the 1992 enforcement of the European labels PDO, PGI, and TSG, this quality certification system has been exclusively used to distinguish quality wines. The DOC label is granted to wines produced in usually small or medium-size holdings and bearing their geographical name. Usually, the vine name follows the DOC name and the production discipline is rather strict. DOC wines are commercialized only after undergoing thorough chemical and sensorial analyses.

Italian appellation system In 1963, the first official Italian system of classification of wines was launched. Since then, several modifications and additions to the legislation have been made (a major one in 1992), the last of which, in 2010, has established four basic categories, which are consistent with the last EU regulation in matter of wine (2008-09). The categories, from the bottom level to the top one, are:

  • Vini (Wines - informally called 'generic wines'): These are wines that can be produced anywhere in the territory of the EU; no indication of geographical origin, of the grape varieties used, or of the vintage is allowed on the label. (The label only reports the color of the wine.)
  • Vini Varietali (Varietal Wines): These are generic wines that are made either mostly (at least 85%) from one kind of authorized 'international' grapes (Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Merlot, Sauvignon blanc, Syrah) or entirely from two or more of them. The grape(s) and the vintage can be indicated on the label. (The prohibition to indicate the geographical origin is instead maintained. These wines can be produced anywhere in the territory of the EU).
  • Vini IGP (Protected Geographical Indication): This category is reserved to wines produced in a specific territory within Italy and following a series of specific and precise regulations on authorized varieties, viticultural and vinification practices, organoleptic and chemico-physical characteristics, labeling instructions, etc. Currently (2013) there exist 118 IGP wines.
  • Vini DOP (Protected Designation of Origin): This category includes two sub-categories, i.e. Vini DOC (Controlled Designation of Origin) and Vini DOCG (Controlled and Guaranteed Designation of Origin). DOC wines must have been IGP wines for at least 5 years. They generally come from smaller regions, within a certain IGP territory, that are particularly vocated for their climatic and geological characteristics and for the quality and originality of the local winemaking traditions. They also must follow stricter production regulations than IGP wines. A DOC wine can be promoted to DOCG if it has been a DOC for at least 10 years. In addition to fulfilling the requisites for DOC wines (since that's the category they come from), before commercialization DOCG wines must pass stricter analyses, including a tasting by a specifically appointed committee. DOCG wines have also demonstrated a superior commercial success. Currently (2013) there exist 330 DOC wines and 73 DOCG wines for a total of 403 DOP wines.​
A number of sub-categories also exist regulating the production of sparkling wines (e.g. Vino Spumante, Vino Spumante di Qualità, Vino Spumante di Qualità di Tipo Aromatico, Vino Frizzante).

Within the DOP category, 'Classico' is a wine produced in the historically oldest part of the protected territory. 'Superiore' is a wine with at least 0.5 more alc%/vol than its correspondent regular DOP wine and produced using a smaller allowed quantity of grapes per hectare, generally yielding a higher quality. 'Riserva' is a wine that has been aged for a minimum period of time, depending on the typology (red, white, Traditional-method sparkling, Charmat-method sparkling). Sometimes, 'Classico' or 'Superiore' are themselves part of the name of the DOP (e.g. Chianti Classico DOCG or Soave Superiore DOCG).

The Italian Ministry of Agriculture (MIPAAF) regularly publishes updates to the official classification.[8][9]

It is important to remark that looser regulations do not necessarily correspond to lower quality. In fact, many IGP wines are actually top level products, mainly due to the special skills of their producers (e.g. so called "Super Tuscan" wines are generally IGP wines, but there are also several other IGP wines of superior quality).

Unlike France, Italy has never had an official classification of its best 'crus'. However, in 2006 an unofficial Comitato Grandi Cru d'Italia (Committee of the Grand Crus of Italy) has been created by several renowned top Italian wine producers. 12 producers launched the project, 36 more were soon accepted by the original members and the committee currently lists 130 members. A number of top wineries are still missing, but in general the Comitato seems rather representative of the Italian wine excellence.
​Cheeses by Italian Province
Quality Labels of Italy
Links to wine producers
Wine Regions of Italy
​
► Wines of Apulia‎ (3 P)
► Wines of Basilicata‎ (1 P) C
► Wines of Campania‎ (3 P) L
► Wines of Lombardy‎ (1 P) P
► Wines of Piedmont‎ (13 P) S
► Wines of South Tyrol‎ (3 P) T
​► Wines of Trentino‎ (2 P) V
► Wines of Veneto‎ (5 P)
ABCE
FGILMNO
PRSTV
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Regions of Italy
Emilia RomagnaFriuli-Venezia GiuliaLombardiaPiedmont
VenetoCentral regions AbruzzoLazioMarche
​Tuscany
UmbriaSouthern regions BasilicataCampaniaPugliaSardiniaSicily

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