Italian Wine Label Information

Italian wine laws are comparatively straightforward, as all the wines are classified under four designations. Two fall into the EU category 'Quality Wine Produced in a Specific Region' (QWPSR), while one of the remaining two (IGT), although not quality wine, is unique to Italy and is a step up from the lowest-quality table wines (Vino da Tavola).

• QWPSR:
  • Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita (DOCG): the highest classification for quality Italian wines, established in 1963. The word 'Garantita' signifies that the production and quality of these wines are not only controlled but also guaranteed. As with other quality wines of Europe, there are strict rules governing the production of DOCG wines, including the permitted grape varieties, yield limits, restrictions on additions during winemaking, minimum/maximum alcohol levels and ageing specifications, to name a few.
    
    Each DOCG wine goes through a strict goverment-approved tasting procedure before being bottled. To prevent any further manipulation or counterfeiting, the bottles have a numbered government seal across the neck.
    
    As at January 2011, there were 56 Italian DOCGs spread across the country, although not all of Italy's 20 wine regions produced these wines.
    
    
  • Denominazione di Origine Controllata (DOC): below DOCG and equivalent to the French AOC level, the DOC classification accounts for the majority of wine production in Italy. It encompasses almost all the legal specifications applicable to French AOC wines, such as restrictions on the use of grape varieties, permitted yields, alcohol levels, ageing specifications, and processing techniques during wine making.
    
    
• Indicazione Geografica Tipica (IGT): The IGT classification was brought into being as part of the 1992 wine legislation which came to be known as the 'Goria Law' – after Giovanni Goria, the then minister of agriculture. Its aim was to accomodate those wines which did not qualify for any of the quality wine designations (DOCG & DOC), mostly due to the use of grape varieties other than those specified for quality wines. Therefore they were labeled as Vino da Tavolas (VDT).
  
  Another important reason behind the creation of this classification was that European Union wine laws did not allow labels to mention grape varieties, vintage or estate names, which formed an intrinsic part of the identity of these wines.
  
  
• Vino da Tavola (VDT): Italian table wine. This is not always synonymous with other countries' legal definitions of 'table wine'. The appellation indicates either an inferior quaffing wine, or one that does not follow current wine law. Some quality wines do carry this appellation (see Super Tuscans, below).
  
  

• Super Tuscans: The term 'Super Tuscan' came into being in the 1970s to denote those wines from Tuscany which could not claim either the DOC or DOCG designations as they did not entirely conform to traditional Italian winemaking practices. The most prevalent reason was the use of international grape varieties (and blends), in addition to techniques such as maturation in small and new oak barrels. As a result, the producers did not have any choice but to label them as Vino da Tavola. Irrespective of this handicap, many of these wines consistently gained critical acclaim throughout the world based on their superior quality. In some cases, they also gained iconic status, with matching price tags, further adding value to the term Super Tuscans.
  
  Some of the Super Tuscans continue to be made under the VDT classification, but since 1992 it is becoming increasingly common to find them in the 'IGT Toscana' category, which has more relaxed legislation and a higher reputation. A few prominent wines have gained their own appellation, such as Sassicaia (Bolgheri Sassicaia DOC), and this trend is likely to continue as an increasing number prove their worth.
  

Please see the illustration below for a typical quality Italian wine label. You may also find the glossary of label terms at the end of this page useful.

Italian Wine Terms

Abboccato	Lightly sweet
Amabile	Medium sweet
Amaro	Bitter or dry
Amarone	A DOCG red wine made from dried grapes
Azienda/Tenuta	Estate
Azienda Agricola	An estate which grows its own grapes to produce wine
Bianco	White
Cantina	Winery
Cantina sociale	Co-operative winery
Cascina	Wine estate
Chiaretto	Pale red or dark rosé
Classico	Generally wines from better vineyards in DOC and DOCG zones
Dolce	Sweet
Frizzante	Slightly sparkling
Imbottigliato all'origine	Estate-bottled
Metodo Classico	Sparkling wine made by the classic Champagne method
Passito	A wine made from dried grapes with strong flavour. Can be dry or sweet.
Produttore	Wine producer
Recioto	Red or sweet white DOCG wine made from dried grapes
Ripasso	A style of wine with a lot of body, alcohol and flavours resembling Amarone wines
Rosato	Rosé
Rosso	Red
Secco	Dry
Spumante	Sparkling
Superiore	Usually wines with higher alcoholic strength
Vendemmia	Vintage
Vecchio	Literally, 'old' or 'aged'. Appears on many wine labels if they meet the local DOC wine ageing specifications.
Vigneto	Vineyard
Vin Santo	A dessert wine which originates from Tuscany and generally made from dried Trebbiano grapes. The style is also replicated in other parts of Italy, such as Marches.
Vino Novello	Literally, 'new/young wine'. Similar in concept to Beaujolais Nouveau, these wines are also characterized by their light and fruity nature. They are typically released for sale on 6 November each year and are best enjoyed young, generally until the beginning of the northern hemisphere summer.

You can also take a look at the wine label information for the European Union, France, Burgundy, Bordeaux, Alsace, Champagne, Germany, USA and Australia, or our general information regarding wine labels.