Protected Designation of Origin – PDO  (in Italian: DOP)

The Protected Designation of Origin, better known by its acronym PDO, is legal protection of designation and is attributed – usually by law – to those food products whose particular quality characteristics essentially, or exclusively, depend upon that particular piece of land where they were grown.

The geographic environment includes both natural (climate, environmental characteristics) factors, as well as human (production techniques handed down over time, craftsmanship, know-how) factors which when all considered together, permit us to obtain an inimitable product outside the bounds of a single production area.

For a product to be termed PDO (DOP), the production, transformation and processing stages must take place within a certain, limited geographic area. Whoever makes PDO (DOP) produce has to keep to strict production rules established in defining production and the respect of such regulations is guaranteed by a specific controlling organ.


Denominazione di origine controllata – DOC

The term ‘Denominazione di origine controllata’, better known by its acronym DOC, is a trademark which certifies the region of origin and its boundaries whose grape harvest is used in the production of wine and upon which the trademark is applied; it serves to indicate a quality product, one of renown, whose characteristics are tied to the natural environment as well as to human factors.

The category of DOC wines includes those wines produced in particular geographic areas in line with particular production specifications (passed by Ministerial Decree).

Before being allowed to be put on the market, said wines have to undergo a preliminary analysis of their chemistry and physics as well as an organoleptic test during the production process which certifies the respect of those requirements envisaged by the specifications; non-respect of the specifications prevents its going onto the market using the DOC term.


Denominazione di origine controllata e garantita - DOCG

‘Denominazione di origine controllata e garantita’, better known by the acronym DOCG, is a trademark ensuring both origin and quality of a wine.

‘Denominazione di origine’ (designation of origin) in terms of wine indicates the geographic area of a particular designated wine-growing region; this is used to precisely testify to a product of quality and renown, whose characteristics are tied to the natural environment as well as to human factors.

The category of DOCG wines includes those wines produced in particular geographic areas in line with particular production specifications (passed by Ministerial Decree) and is present in the Marche.

‘DOCG’ is reserved for wines that have already demonstrated the standards of ‘Denominazione di origine controllata’ (DOC) for at least five years and are retained to be of particular prestige, regarding those intrinsic characteristics of quality, when compared to those average characteristics of similar wines so-defined. This, owing to the impact of traditional human, natural and historic factors and they have acquired renown and commercial increase in value at a national and international level.

Such wines, before being put onto the market, have to undergo a preliminary analysis of their chemistry and physics as well as an organoleptic test during the production process, a test which certifies conformity to the necessary requirements; it, too, must be repeated, lot by lot, during the bottling process. For DOCG wines, there is also sensory analysis (tasting) carried out by an appointed Committee; the non-respect of requirements prevents its going onto the market using the DOCG term.


Indicazione geografica tipica – IGT

The ‘Indicazione geografica tipica’, better known by its acronym IGT, is the third of the four wine classification lists that are recognised by the Italian Government and it indicates quality table wines produced throughout regions that are generally widespread.

Requirements are less restrictive that those imposed for ‘Denominazione di origine controllata’ (DOC) wines. This category includes table wines produced in specific regions or geographic areas (sanctioned by law), at times following a generic set of production rules and regulations. They may indicate on the label, besides colour description, the description of the species of vine used as well as the vintage.

Generally, those table wines of quality but which are inferior to DOC and DOCG ones come into this category. It is here that we must make it clear that placing a wine among IGT ones is both due to commercial choices and to the impossibility, because of their composition (vine type employed), of coming within the rules for quality wines of certain regions of production (DOC and DOCG).