Italy Overview: Wine Law, Geography, DOC system, Labeling Terms

Question 1

Which 2 ancient civilizations produced wine in Italy before the Romans?

Answer 1

• Etruscans
• Greeks

Question 2

Approximately how many registered grape varietals does Italy have?:

• 250
• 800
• 1300

Answer 2

1300

Some experts have pegged the number greater than 2,000, several hundred of which are native to Italy.

Question 3

How many regions does Italy have?

Answer 3

20

Question 4

What are the countries that border Italy?

Answer 4

West: France

North: Switzerland, Austria

East: Slovenia

Question 5

What are the seas that surround Italy?

Answer 5

West: Tyrrhenian + Ligurian Seas

East: Adriatic Sea

South: Ionian Sea

Question 6

What mountain range runs along most of Italy’s northern border?

Answer 6

The Alps

Question 7

What is the mountain range that runs down the center of the Italian peninsula?

Answer 7

The Apennines

Question 8

What is the general climate of Italy?

Answer 8

North: cool Continental

South: warm Mediterranean

Question 9

Approximately how many registered vineyards does Italy have?

Answer 9

~900,000

Question 10

In Italy, wines without geographic indication are labeled as ____.

Answer 10

Vino

Question 11

When Italian wines are just labeled as Vino, what colors can they be?

Can they have the vintage on the label?

Answer 11

Vino can be:

• rosso, bianco or rosato
• can be labeled with OR without the vintage

Question 12

Wines with a geographical indication are split into ____ and ____.

Answer 12

• IGP
• DOP

Question 13

What does IGP stand for?

Answer 13

Indicazione Geografica Protetta

OF NOTE:

• IGP designation includes IGT (Indicazione Geografica Tipica)
• both IGP/IGT are considered PGI by the EU and are interchangeable
• IGP wines range from the most basic to some of the most sought after in Italy

Question 14

What 2 Italian wine classifications are within DOP?

Answer 14

1. DOC
2. DOCG

Question 15

On their wine labels, can Italians use either DOP or DOC/DOCG?

Answer 15

Yes

Though most old school producers will use DOCG if they’re in a DOCG zone and have historically used DOCG on their label.

Question 16

In what year was the DOC system introduced in Italy?

Answer 16

1963

Question 17

Why was the DOC system launched in Italy?

Answer 17

• To protect Italy’s wine appellations
• To formalize the production area and methods for each wine

Question 18

What are Italy’s wine classifications from largest to smallest?

Answer 18

• Vino
• IGT
• DOC
• DOCG

Question 19

Italian Labeling Terms:

Classico

Answer 19

The original, smaller zone and the best part of an area.

e.g. Chianti, Chianti Classico

Question 20

Italian Labeling Terms:

Riserva

Answer 20

Usually indicates:

• extended aging, usually both in cask and bottle
• usually denotes lower yields
• usually denotes higher alcohol

Riserva is a legally defined term in Italy, unlike in the U.S. or South America.

Question 21

Italian Labeling Terms:

Superiore

Answer 21

Usually indicates:

• higher alcohol
• longer aging (depends on appellation)

Question 22

Italian Labeling Terms:

Spumante

Answer 22

Fully sparkling

Question 23

Italian Labeling Terms:

Frizzante

Answer 23

Gently sparkling

Question 24

Italian Labeling Terms:

Metodo Classico

Answer 24

Traditional Method used to make sparkling wine.

Heads up! Metodo Classico is the same as méthode champenoise, the method used in Champagne.

Question 25

Italian Labeling Terms:

Secco

Answer 25

Dry

Question 26

Italian Labeling Terms:

Amabile

Answer 26

Off-dry

Question 27

Italian Labeling Terms:

Dolce

Answer 27

Sweet

Question 28

Italian Labeling Terms:

Recioto + Passito

Answer 28

Both indicate the wine was made from dried grapes.

These wines are almost always sweet.