If you take a bottle of wine in your hand, you will often see one of the following classifications on the label, but what do they actually mean?

In the second half of the 20th century, to be precise in 1963, Italy decided to introduce a number of laws to indicate quality and to guarantee authenticity and specific Italian character. However, many progressive wine producers felt that the system was based too much on traditional methods so that producers who saw more in modern techniques could come into difficulties with the classification of their wines. After much discussion and vinological research, this resulted in 1992 in the introduction of the ‘Law 164’. The aim of the law is to increase the number of classified wines, in addition to carrying out strict checks on all facets of viticulture. The new wine law has certainly led to a substantial improvement in the quality of Italian wines. Reducing production per hectare has been by far the most significant change in Italian wine growing over the past 30 years. All this with the aim of constantly improving and increasing the quality.

The legislation includes matters such as use of grape variety, percentage of alcohol in the wine, how country the wine must be matured at least, a maximum number of hectoliters per hectare produced, etc. Result is 4 types of classifications which are described below:

The term Vino da Tavola refers to ordinary wines without a designation of origin. The table wines are usually mixed with different varieties and usually more suitable for local consumption.

One of the most innovative aspects of the “Law 164” is the introduction of the IGT classification. The elements that characterize the IGT wines are the designation of the geographical area (for example Toscana, Marken), of the basic grape used. At least 85% of the wines must come from the geographical area of which they bear the name and must meet the criteria set out in the production rules for each IGT. There are very high quality IGT wines, often these wines are made from non-native grape varieties (for example Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot or Chardonnay).

A wine with a DOC award represents a quality wine with a controlled designation of origin, which is more specific than the IGT. The production rules for this classification include the grape variety to be made from this wine, vinification method, ripening time, etc.

DOCG wines meet the most stringent requirements of Italian wine legislation. Before a DOCG wine can be placed on the market, it must have passed two tests: the first test is carried out during the production phase where the wines undergo a chemical and test technical analysis. We examine whether the wine contains sufficient substances (polyphenols, sugars and acids) to qualify for the DOCG classification. The second test is carried out after maturation and bottling. On the basis of another test technical test, it is checked whether the wine has actually developed the characteristics that are characteristic of that specific DOCG wine, and whether the wine is well balanced. If the wine meets the requirements, the wine gets the famous DOCG banderole.