Italian wine labels explained: Understanding DOCG, DOC & IGT – Decanter
{“api”:{“host”:”https:\/\/pinot.decanter.com”,”authorization”:”Bearer ZTIxZTY2MGY5ZGI4YmI4NDVjNmE1NzQ5OTg0YTBjODA1M2JlNTE5MThkZjcxMWZlYzFmYTk4ZDhiODRiZjI5NQ”,”version”:”2.0″},”piano”:{“sandbox”:”false”,”aid”:”6qv8OniKQO”,”rid”:”RJXC8OC”,”offerId”:”OFPHMJWYB8UK”,”offerTemplateId”:”OFPHMJWYB8UK”,”wcTemplateId”:”OTOW5EUWVZ4B”}}
James Button
July 17, 2024
The eagle-eyed among you may have seen the letters DOCG, DOC, IGT or VdT on Italian wine labels, but what do they mean?
These classifications, based on Italy’s wine system since the 1960s and aligned with EU terminology, indicate quality and control levels. DOP (Protected Designation of Origin) divides into DOCG and DOC. IGP (Protected Geographic Indication) and VdT (‘table wine’) have fewer restrictions, but some quality wines may be labeled VdT due to producer preferences.
The classifications guide consumers but don’t always guarantee quality, as good wines can exist outside the highest tiers.
{“content”:”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”}
Related articles
Poggio Valente: Creation of a Tuscan Sangiovese cru
The exciting potential of Terre Nere’s Etna rosato amid the Sicilian rosé boom
Lugana white wines: Panel tasting results