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Here is a taste of what members learn, all in an easy to understand format.

Understanding the denominations.

Italy's classification system is a modern one that reflects current realities. It has four classes of wine, with two falling under the EU category Quality Wine Produced in a specific region (QWPSR) and two falling under the category of "Table Wines".

The four classes are:

Table Wine

Vino da Tavola - Denotes wine from Italy. NOTE: this is not always synonymous with other countries' legal definitions of Table wine. The appellation indicates either an inferior quaffing wine, or one that does not follow current wine law. Some quality wines do carry this appellation.

IGT (Indicazione Geografica Tipica)- Denotes wine from a more specific region within Italy. This appellation was created in 1994 for the "new" wines of Italy, those that had broken the strict, old wine laws but were wines of great quality. Before the IGT was created, quality "Super Tuscany" wines such as Tignanello and Sassicaia were labeled Vino da Tavola (Table wines).

QWPSR

DOC (Denominazione di Origine controllata) Denominazione di origine controllata is an Italian quality assurance label for food products and especially wines (an Appellation). It is modelled after the French AOC. It was instituted in 1963 and overhauled in 1992 for compliance with the equivalent EU law on Protected Designation of Origin, which came into effect that year.

DOCG (Denominazione di origine controllata e Garantita) DOCG regions are subterritories of DOC regions that produce outstanding products that may be subject to more stringent production and quality standards than the same products from the surrounding DOC region. The need for a DOCG identification arose when the DOC denomination was, in the view of many Italian food industries, given too liberally to different products. A new, more restrictive identification was then created, as similar as possible to the previous one so that buyers could still recognize it, but qualitatively different.

A notable difference for wines labeled DOCG, they are analyzed and tasted by government-licensed personnel before being bottled. To prevent later manipulation, DOCG wine bottles are sealed with a numbered governmental seal across the cap or cork.

Both DOC and DOCG wines refer to zones which are more specific than an IGT, and the permitted grapes are also more specifically defined. The main difference between a DOC and a DOCG is that the latter must pass a blind taste test for quality in addition to conforming to the strict legal requirements to be designated as a wine from the area in question.

Presently, there are 120 IGT zones. In February 2006 there were 311 DOC plus 32 DOCG designations, according to V.Q.P.R.D. Vini (DOCG - DOC): Elenco e Riferimenti Normativi al 07.02.2006, published by the Italian Ministry of Agriculture.

The two require that a food product be produced within the specified region using defined methods and that it satisfies a defined quality standard.

DOC - Denominazione di Origine Controllata

DOCG - Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita

Italian legislation also regulates the use of the following qualifying terms for wines:

classico: is reserved for wines produced in the region where a particular type of wine has been produced "traditionally". For the Chianti classico, this "traditional region" is defined by a decree from July 10, 1932.

riserva: may be used only for wines that have been aged at least two years longer than normal for a particular type of wine. Wines labeled DOC or DOCG may only be sold in bottles holding at most 5 liters.

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