The mention superiore (superior in English) is given to DOCG and DOC wines which have higher quality characteristics than wines without mention. If provided by the appellation guidelines and - obviously - at the discretion of the winemaker, the superiore wine is obtained when it meets certain more restrictive parameters:

• grapes yield per hectare at least 10% lower;
• potential natural alcoholic content of the grapes at least 0,5% higher;
• total alcoholic content of the wine at least 0,5% higher.

It is possible to find the mention superior together with the mention classico, but not with the mentions novelloand riserva. Therefore the wine name assumes the form indicated in the following diagram:

• appellation name + superiore + DOCG / DOC + vintage
• appellation name + mention + specification + superiore + DOCG / DOC + vintage

Some examples of wines with the mention superiore:

• Valdobbiadene Prosecco superiore DOCG 2015
• Orvieto classico superiore DOC 2016