Northern Italy

Table of Contents
  1. Italian Wine Law
  2. Northern Italy
  3. Piedmont (Piemonte)
  4. Valle d'Aosta
  5. Lombardy
  6. Liguria
  7. Emilia-Romagna
  8. Trentino-Alto Adige
  9. Veneto
  10. Friuli-Venezia Giulia
  11. Review Quizzes

Italian Wine Law

The Denominazione di Origine Controllata (DOC) system was introduced in 1963 as a means of formalizing and protecting Italian wine appellations.

The French AOC system acted as a model for Italian authorities, as they established maximum yields, approved varieties and viticultural practices, set geographical boundaries, and authorized vinification techniques, styles, and minimum (or maximum) alcohol levels for each DOC wine. The Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita (DOCG) category, a more prestigious and—theoretically—higher quality designation designed to represent the best of Italian wine, was also introduced in 1963, although the first DOCG was not awarded until 1980, when Brunello di Montalcino, Barolo and Vino Nobile di Montepulciano were upgraded from DOC. Most DOCGs (and many DOCs) stipulate minimum aging requirements for the wines—a notable departure from the legal requirements set by most French appellations. Over time, the system became unwieldy and too lenient; yields and geographical restrictions became too generous. Hundreds of DOC zones were established, leading to consumer confusion. Even the DOCG category, which should only include the recognizable benchmarks of Italian wine, was watered down by such unlikely promotions as Romagna Albana. As criticism of the system amplified in the 1970s and 1980s, many of Italy’s finer producers resorted to the Vino da Tavola category, releasing experimental wines produced in a manner conflicting with DOC legislation. Vino da Tavola, or table wine, cannot bear any geographical designation other than “Italy” itself, yet some of Italy’s most iconic wines—in particular the “Super Tuscans” Sassicaia and Tignanello—got their start as simple Vino da Tavola.

Comments
Anonymous
Parents
  • A note as well that Pinot Grigio is marked incorrect for most planted grape of Alto Adige with Schiava marked as correct, a statement that, while true until a few years ago, is no longer.  Schiava has since fallen to 5th most planted behind Pinot Grigio (1), Gewürztraminer (2), Chardonnay (3), and Pinot Bianco (4).

  • (on the Intermediate quiz)

Comment
  • (on the Intermediate quiz)

Children
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