Italian Wine Classification

Italy's 2016 wine law classifies protected designations of origin (DOP) as DOCG and DOC, and treats IGT as the Italian term for wines with a protected geographical indication (IGP). MASAF, Italy's agriculture ministry, sets out four commercial categories for Italian wine: DOCG, DOC, IGT and vini da tavola, alongside special wines such as liqueur, sparkling, semi-sparkling and aromatised wines. Italian Wine Central notes that the EU treats DOCG and DOC as the same PDO level.

• MASAF states that DOCG and DOC production specifications set the name, growing technique, grape blends, maximum yields, vinification zone and wine characteristics
• MASAF states that all DOCG and DOC wines undergo chemical-physical and organoleptic examination by a tasting commission
• Labels may show DOCG, DOC and IGT alone or together with the EU terms DOP and IGP
• A new DOCG must have stricter viticultural and winemaking rules than the DOC it comes from, and a new DOC stricter rules than the IGT it comes from

The 1963 decree already set out two controlled levels: 'controllate' denominations for wines meeting their production specification, and 'controllate e garantite' denominations reserved for wines of particular merit. Italian Wine Central records that Brunello di Montalcino, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, Barolo and Barbaresco were each established as DOC in 1966 and became DOCG in 1980. Under Italy's 2016 wine law, DOCG recognition is reserved for wines that have been DOC for at least seven years, that are judged of particular merit for their intrinsic quality and acquired commercial reputation, and that were claimed over the previous two years by an average of at least 51 percent of the growers concerned, representing at least 51 percent of the eligible vineyard area. As of 2026, MASAF's list counts 79 DOCG wines.

• DOCG wines must be released in bottles or other containers of no more than six litres, unless their production specification says otherwise
• Each DOCG container carries a special seal printed by the Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca dello Stato or authorised printers, with a series and an identification number
• The 2016 law provides for systematic analytical and organoleptic checks on DOCG wines, and a positive result is valid for 180 days
• The 'gran selezione' mention is reserved for DOCG wines made only from grapes grown in vineyards managed by the bottling company

The 1963 decree reserved controlled denominations for wines that meet the conditions and requirements set out in each denomination's production specification, the disciplinare. Those specifications had to set the production zone, the grape varieties, the maximum grape yield per hectare, the maximum yield of grapes into wine, and the wine's physical, chemical and organoleptic characteristics and minimum natural alcohol. Under Italy's 2016 wine law, DOC recognition is reserved for wines from zones that have been IGT for at least five years and that were claimed over the previous two years by an average of at least 35 percent of the growers concerned, representing at least 35 percent of the area's production. As of 2026, MASAF's list counts 332 DOC wines.

• A positive chemical-physical and organoleptic check is valid for two years for DOC wines and three years for DOC liqueur wines
• DOC wines may carry the state seal or, as an alternative, a lot number
• 'Classico' is reserved for the oldest zone of a still-wine denomination, and 'riserva' requires at least two years of ageing for reds and one year for whites
• 'Superiore' requires a grape yield per hectare at least 10 percent lower and minimum alcohol levels at least 0.5 percent by volume higher than the wine without that mention

Italy's 1992 wine law classified denominations and indications as DOCG, DOC and IGT, defining a typical geographical indication as the geographical name of a zone used to designate the product that comes from it. Decanter dates the creation of IGT to 1992 and describes it as a tier above basic Vino da Tavola for quality wines that did not meet DOC or DOCG rules, citing the Super Tuscans as a prime example. MASAF sets the origin rule. IGT wines must be made at least 85 percent from grapes harvested in the geographical zone whose name they carry. As of 2026, MASAF's list counts 111 IGT wines.

• IGT wines may use any variety listed in Italy's national register of grape varieties
• Under the 2016 law, an IGT is recognised when the request represents an average of at least 20 percent of the growers concerned and at least 20 percent of the declared vineyard area
• Decanter, citing the Osservatorio del Vino UIV (June 2024), reports Puglia bottling 1,459,789 hectolitres of IGT wine from the 2022 vintage, ahead of Emilia at 909,509 hectolitres
• In Valle d'Aosta IGT may be replaced by 'Vin de pays', and in the Province of Bolzano by 'Landwein'

Italian Wine Central describes everything that does not qualify for DOP or IGP, because it is made outside an approved area or does not follow that area's rules, as simply wine, or vino. Decanter calls Vino da Tavola the lowest level of Italian classification, typically for high-volume bulk wine with little in the way of restrictions, and notes that early vintages of Redigaffi, Le Pergole Torte, Sassicaia and Ornellaia were labelled VdT before IGT existed. Italian Wine Central reports that the EU's 2008 wine law provided for only three levels, DOP, IGP and Vino, and that the EU agreed to let countries keep using traditional terms such as DOC and DOCG on labels. According to Italian Wine Central, the number of DOCGs almost doubled between 2008 and 2011, reaching 73.

• Italy's 2016 wine law takes its definitions of designation of origin and geographical indication from Article 93 of Regulation (EU) 1308/2013
• Under that EU definition, a designation of origin uses grapes exclusively from its zone, while a geographical indication needs at least 85 percent of its grapes from its zone
• A consorzio di tutela may be formed and recognised by the Ministry for each DOP or IGP, which carries out protection, promotion and consumer-information work for its denomination on behalf of its own members
• Italian Wine Central reports that new EU rules in January 2019 let national authorities approve 'standard' modifications, and that Tullum (Terre Tollesi) became a DOCG under that procedure in 2019

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