The Italian Appellations

As one of the founding members of the EU, Italy is subject to European regulations, and classifies its production according to a hierarchy that distinguishes between wines with a geographical indication and table wines without indication of origin.

Vino di tavola: table wine

Indicazione geografica tipica (IGT): the equivalent of vins de pays, or local wine

Denominazione di origine controllata (DOC): the equivalent of an AOC, an appellation

Denominazione di origine controllata e garantita (DOCG): a kind of super-AOC with more severe production constraints

Classico: this term designates the historic heart of the vineyard, often with superior potential, and from which most of the best wines of the appellation come

Superiore: indicates a slightly higher potential alcohol content and therefore a more advanced maturity of the grapes, but without guaranteeing a better quality.

Riserva: this term means that the wine has benefited from a long ageing in barrel, of at least two years, but often more.

In Italy, the levels of appellation are theoretical and not subject to strict controls as in France. Therefore, it is not impossible to find estates that acquired a certain level of appellation several years ago, but which today no longer really meet these standards.