DOC, DOCG, IGT: what they really mean
Italian wine's hierarchy explained without putting you to sleep.
Every bottle has an acronym. DOC, DOCG, IGT, VdT. Most people ignore them. Let's clarify.
🔺 The pyramid
VdT — Table Wine
No rules. Doesn't mean bad — Sassicaia was born as VdT.
IGT — Geographic Indication
Specific area, but freedom on grapes. Super Tuscans are IGT by choice.
DOC — Controlled Designation
Serious rules: area, grapes, yields, methods. ~340 DOCs in Italy.
DOCG — Controlled and Guaranteed
The top. Tasting panel + state seal. Only 77 DOCGs.
💡 The trick
DOCG doesn't mean "better". A Sassicaia (DOC) costs 10x a Soave DOCG. The hierarchy is bureaucratic, not qualitative.