Introduction of VDT, DOC, IGT, IGP and DOCG
Wine, the alcoholic beverage renowned and loved across the world, is produced via the total or partial alcoholic fermentation of fresh grapes, mashed grapes or grape must, the fruit of Vitis vinifera, which is considered as one of the oldest plants to appear on earth. There are different types, among them, the following most famous of wines can be distinguished, but it should be noted that the actual list is much wider:
- White
- Red
- Rosé
Going into the specific details of the wines, it is important to introduce further classifications. It should be emphasized that the organoleptic characteristics deriving from the cultivation of one vine rather than another and the chemical-physical analyses provide the wine with important and renowned certifications that increase the value of the product.
The fundamental categories can be divided as follows:
DOC
An acronym that signifies the denomination of controlled origin (denominazione di origine controllata). It is an Italian origin mark that certifies the area of origin of the grapes harvested and used for the production of wine; it is used to designate the quality and renown of the product, whose characteristics are connected to the natural environment and human factors that comply with a specific production discipline approved by ministerial decree. These wines must be subjected to a chemical-physical analysis and an organoleptic examination that certifies compliance with the requirements of the regulations during the production phase, failure to comply with the requirements prevents them from being marketed with the DOC label, created in the 1950s by the Roman lawyer Rolando Ricci, an official of the then Ministry of Agriculture.
DOCG
An acronym outlining the denomination of controlled and guaranteed origin (denominazione di origine controllata e garantita). It is an Italian origin mark that indicates to the consumer the geographical origin of a wine. The name of the DOCG is compulsorily indicated on the label and consists simply of the geographical name of a wine-growing area. DOCGs are reserved for wines that have already been recognized as a designation of controlled origin (DOC) for at least five years that are considered of particular value, in relation to the intrinsic qualitative characteristics, thanks to natural, traditional, human and historical factors and above all that have acquired renown and commercial enhancement at both the national and international level.
Prior to being put on the market, these wines must undergo a chemical-physical analysis and an organoleptic examination during the production phase that certifies compliance with the requirements of the specification; this examination must be repeated, batch by batch, even during the bottling phase. A sensory analysis (tasting) performed by a commission is also required for DOCG wines; failure to comply with the requirements prevents it from being marketed under the DOCG mark.
IGT
An acronym that signifies the typical geographical indication (indicazione geografica tipica). It is also a mark of origin that qualifies table wines produced in certain regions or geographic areas according to generic production specifications which are regulated by law; they may also include on the label, in addition to the indication of the color, the indication of the variety or varieties used and the year of the harvest of the grapes. With the IGT label you can also find wines of high quality; their placement among table wines or IGTs is due both to commercial choices and to the impossibility, due to their composition (the grape varieties used), to fall within the specifications of the wines of the production areas.
IGP
The acronym signifies the protected geographical indication (indicazione geografica protetta). Indicating a mark of origin that is attributed by the European Union to those agricultural and food products for which a certain quality, reputation or other characteristic is dependant on the geographical origin, and whose production, transformation and / or processing takes place within a specific geographical area. Those who produce under the IGP label must comply with strict production rules established in the production disciplinary, and compliance with these rules is guaranteed by a specific control body which protects the recipes and some production processes typical of the place and that of final production.
This is sometimes granted mainly because the local or national production of raw materials intended for this purpose may not be sufficient to satisfy the demand for the product globally, or because some ingredients of foreign origin are considered more suitable for their specific characteristics. Organoleptic testing has a decisive role in the final result of the product.
TABLE WINES
Of the four categories mentioned above, this is generally considered as the least valuable, known in past years as table wines, we can refer to these as essentially common wines, produced with grapes from different vines, and subject to less strict controls than those that regulate higher quality wines. Table wines without a geographical indication can be the result of blending various wines from different areas. The fact remains that, as previously mentioned, you can also find high quality wines within any label.
