The meanings of the classifications IGT, IGP, DOC, DOCG
25 March 2019
The classification of wines is governed by the regulations issued by the European Community and incorporated into national regulations.
But what do the various initials IGT, IGP, DOC, DOCG mean?
Let's discover the names of Italian wines together.
I.G.T. - Typical Geographical Indication
The acronym IGT, qualifies those wines that are produced in certain regions or geographical areas, generally quite large, according to a specification drawn up in its essential features by the European legislation for all IGP wines and however less restrictive than those in place for DOP wines , or DOC and DOCG.
Although the IGT classification corresponds to the lowest level of origin denominations, it is also possible to find wines of great value within this classification.
But what do the various initials IGT, IGP, DOC, DOCG mean?
Let's discover the names of Italian wines together.
I.G.T. - Typical Geographical Indication
The acronym IGT, qualifies those wines that are produced in certain regions or geographical areas, generally quite large, according to a specification drawn up in its essential features by the European legislation for all IGP wines and however less restrictive than those in place for DOP wines , or DOC and DOCG.
Although the IGT classification corresponds to the lowest level of origin denominations, it is also possible to find wines of great value within this classification.
D.O.C. - Designation of origin
D.O.C. wines they are regulated by a specification and are characterized by a very specific area of origin, also with indication of a sub-area, to the point of restricting the area to a municipality, a hamlet, a farm, a farm or a vineyard.
It is clear that the more restricted the area of origin becomes and the more the indications increase, the more the number of producers and the quantity of wine that can be produced is restricted; all this is synonymous with the growing quality of the wine that is produced.
The DOC wines, before being put on the market, are subjected, during processing, to chemical-physical and organoleptic analysis that proves compliance with the requirements of the production disciplinary.
The DOC classification also refers to areas that have maintained the IGT classification for at least 5 years.
D.O.C.G. - Designation of origin and guaranteed
The DOCG denomination is reserved for types of wines that have served for at least 10 years among the rows of DOC wines can boast a particular and consolidated prestige and are recognized as valuable in terms of sensory evaluation. The wines must be produced in compliance with a strict production regulation approved by Ministerial Decree which provides procedures and controls throughout the production cycle from the vineyard to the bottle. The analysis of the characteristics of the wine are in fact verified both in the production phase and after bottling, when a tasting is also carried out by a special commission of experts that carries out a sensory evaluation.
To protect products linked to tradition, to identify the territory and to guarantee high quality and value, specific brands are adopted in France: AOC (which means Appelation d'Origine Contrôlée and corresponds to the Italian DOC), and the AOP (ie the Appelation d'Origine Protégée which corresponds to the Italian DOP).
