How to read an Italian Wine Label

Region

The region of origin is a compulsory element of every wine label. The name must be authorised by local government bodies, through an ordinance that forces the producers to report the macro-region of origin, such as Piedmont or Sicily, or micro-region, such as Chianti or Valpolicella.

The indication is essential and extremely useful: it allows the customer to have an idea about the wine style (for example, generally speaking Southern Italian reds tend to be fuller bodied and more alcoholic) and grape types used to produce the wine (for example, if the region is Chianti, that implies Sangiovese is the main grape variety).

Grape Variety

Unfortunately, most laws do not require a wine label to indicate what grape variety or varieties have been used to produce the wine itself. Nonetheless, it’s possible to find this piece of information on the back or on the front of the bottle.

It may sound confusing but the Italian labelling system often implies that the buyer already knows the wine within a bottle, and instead of specifying the pertinent grape type, it will indicate the wine region (or appellation) instead.

Nowadays, many labels decide to specify the grape types nevertheless, and this is particularly true for wines which have been produced from blends or wines whose appellations are not as popular to the wider public. This doesn't tend to happen for well-established wines where their grape varieties are given for granted.

For example, if you are buying a bottle of Barolo, its label is likely not to not mention that Barolo (wine style) is made from Nebbiolo (grape variety); however, in case of a bottle of Etna (wine style), which is a less popular and made from a blend of different grape types, the composition will often be indicated.

Producer

The producer’s name is compulsory on a wine label, as well as the municipality where the wine is bottled, if it happens to differ from the producer’s winery.

Knowing the name of the company behind a certain wine can help the average user when picking among a wide range of bottles. Some producers are worldwide renowned for the exceptional quality of their products or for being historically critical to certain wine appellations. A bit of knowledge (and Googling!) and some word of mouth can surely help your decision making.

Take the example of the Biondi Santi family, from Tuscany. In the second half of the 19th century, they decided to produce a long-lived wine with 100% Sangiovese grape type, thus anticipating, by almost a century, the subsequent developments of Tuscan viticulture. They created the basis of what is now considered synonymous with Brunello di Montalcino.

Wine Classification

A label is required to display a certain classification which indicates the wine origin, together with a long series of rules and controls to which the product must go through. Such strict classifications have been created to guarantee the quality of the Italian wine heritage and to combat the popular tactic of counterfeiting, while respecting the growing number of laws set by the EU.

A total of four classifications were instituted in order to distinguish the various quality levels across Italian wines, creating what is commonly known as the Pyramid of Quality.

The base of this pyramid, and therefore the lowest standard, is represented by the Vino da Tavola (Table Wine). This is followed by the IGT, an acronym for Indicazione Geografica Tipica (Protected Geographical Indication, PGI).

The higher quality standards are represented by the following classifications: DOC (Denominazione di Origine Controllata, which translates as Wines with Controlled Designation of Origin), and, at the very top of the pyramid, DOCG (Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita, which translates as Wines with Controlled and Guaranteed Designation of Origin).

More on this topic can be found further down the post.

By grape name

These are the easiest labels to read, especially if you buy most of your wine based on the grape types you trust and like. Pinot Grigio, Falanghina and many other varieties are often displayed on labels, especially for IGT wines that cover a regional production.

For example, wines under the IGT Sicily, can be named and sold as Nero D’Avola, if such grape type is used for at least 85% of the total wine blend. In addition, a grape’s name can often be followed by the location of origin, such as Barbera d’Asti, Montepulciano d’Abruzzo, Brunello di Montalcino and many others.

By region / place of origin

This is probably the most used nomenclature in Italy. In fact, many wines are actually named after the place where they come from.

This simply happens because a wine is often named after a certain appellation, which itself comes from a specific area of origin. Examples include the famous Barolo, Barbaresco or Chianti, just to name a few.

By fantasy name

Some Italian wines are labelled by using fantasy names, such as Super-Tuscans, Sassicaia or Tignanello. This often happens with IGT wines, when a producer wants to give a specific identification to a new wine blend, or perhaps a certain wine is made outside strict regulations which won’t allow for different appellations.

Fantasy names can also work well as creative marketing tactics, allowing certain producers to stand out from others.

Vino da Tavola (VdT)

It generally refers to ready-to-drink wines, well-suited for large daily consumption. A Vino da Tavola wine can result from a blend of grapes, or wines, from different geographical areas, from different varieties and from different harvests. On the label, there is no indication of the grape type/s used, and even a mention of the colour (red, white, rosato) is often optional.

A Vino da Tavola appellation does not necessarily translate into a low-quality wine; sometimes - and this is especially true for wines that are subject to serious production constraints - this represents the only appellation available for winemakers who are eager to create an original wine that sits outside the schemes of the designations of origin.

IGT - Indicazione Geografica Tipica (Geographical Indication)

These wines are classified based on the geographical area of production, whose essential characteristics need to comply with a series of European regulations for PGI (Protected Geographical Indication) wines.

IGT was originally created back in 1992 in order to categorise wines that failed to be certified as DOC or DOCG, as they were made from grape types or blends that did not fall under the mentioned appellations. Although the IGT classification is often perceived as lower quality by the general public, nowadays it is possible to find wines of great value, such as remarkable bottles of Super-Tuscans, Toscana IGT, Puglia IGT, Veneto IGT and so on.

DOC - Denominazione di Origine Controllata (Controlled Designation of Origin)

The DOC classification refers to areas traditionally suited to quality wines that, before obtaining such recognition, have maintained the IGT classification for at least 5 years.

The DOC wines must express a peculiar character, strongly linked to the territory, and must respect, in all stages of production, a series of strict requirements (area of production, vine, yield per hectare, minimum alcohol content, etc.). The word DOC is also a guarantee of quality as the wines must pass a chemical-physical and organoleptic evaluation by a team of experts.

In Italy there are 330 DOCs with the highest concentration being in Piedmont.

DOCG - Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita (Controlled and Guaranteed Designation of Origin)

The DOCG denomination is reserved for wines that, having been ranked for at least 10 years among DOC wines, boast an established prestige and are recognised as valuable in terms of sensorial evaluation. The specifications to obtain the DOCG classification involve rigid procedures and controls throughout the production cycle, from the vineyard to the bottle. An analysis of the characteristics of the wine is performed both in the production and the bottling phases. This is why the guarantee expressed by the DOCG title is extremely reliable.

The overall number of DOCGs in Italy is 75, including the most elite and renowned wines throughout the entire country, such as Brunello di Montalcino and Barolo. In order to combat counterfeiting, DOCG wines have a numbered government seal across the bottle.

For DOC and DOCG wines, further specifications are also provided:

• Classico:

  it indicates that the wine has been produced in the historical and most traditional sub-area within the wine region.

• Riserva:

  this qualification is attributed to those wines that have sustained a longer ageing period than the one requested by the specification. In general, the necessary ageing timeframe a wine needs to be certified as Riserva is at least two years for reds and at least one year for whites.

• Superiore:

  this specification identifies DOC or DOCG wines with maximum yields of at least 10% lower than those specified in the classification, with the aim of improving organoleptic qualities and raising alcohol content by at least 0.5% above the standard.

Memorise the most popular appellations

You may already know that Chianti and Brunello are made from Sangiovese grapes and Barolo from Nebbiolo. With time and experience, you will gradually learn the rest.

Besides, some of the appellations are particularly easy, like the Montepulciano d’Abruzzo or the Primitivo di Manduria, as their names already unveil most of the key information.

Go step by step

Try to identify whatever is familiar to you. Of course, the easiest way to decipher a wine label is to find the grape’s name. But if that’s not there, check the specific appellation. If you can’t recognise it, the place of origin can still give you some ideas, albeit generic.

Certain regions often showcase macro-characteristics which tend to be valid across many of their wines. For instance, a wine Trentino-Alto-Adige most probably will show a lighter body, a lower alcoholic content and a higher acidity compared to a wine from Sicily.

Keep refreshing your knowledge

This article should be a good starting point for understanding the basics of Italian wine labels. If you are curious about wine, don’t limit yourself to reading an article every blue moon, but sign up to informative newsletters, or follow social media accounts that regularly talk about wine.

And remember: the best way to learn about wine is through empirical experience, so taste different wines and take notes!