Wines with Protected Designation of Origin
The DOP wines (Denominazione di Origine Protetta in Italian, that is Protected Designation of Origin) correspond to the following wines:
- Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita (DOCG), that is Controlled and Guaranteed Designation of Origin;
- Denominazione di Origine Controllata (DOC), that it Controlled Designation of Origin.
They are wines with high quality characteristics that follow strict production protocols. Since they are produced in small well-defined areas with particular production characteristics, they are placed in the upper part of the classification, above generic and IGP/IGT wines.
Minimum information
The minimum information that we always find on the label of a wine with designation of origin (DOP/DOCG/DOC) are as follows:
- the name of the designation of origin (for example, Sforzato di Valtellina);
- the typology of designation written in full (for example, Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita);
- the year of the harvest (for example 2018);
- the actual alcohol content in % of the volume (example 12%);
- the country where it was produced (for example, Prodotto in Italia, that is Produced in Italy);
- the identification of the bottler (i.e. its business name and location);
- the indication of the presence of allergens (for example, Contiene solfiti, that is Contains sulfites);
- the packaging lot (usually a code);
- the volume of wine contained in the bottle (for example 75 cl).
There is no precise order or a pre-set scheme of this information, the important is that they are contained in the same field of vision, i.e. they are easily readable without having to turn the bottle.
The type of wine and the vine are not mentioned - as in table and varietal wines - since they are intrinsic in the referred designation of origin.
Optional information
In addition to the minimum indications seen above, the producers have the opportunity to describe their wines in greater detail, provided they comply with the relevant production protocols. Some indications are closely linked to the winemaking process, while others are more commercial. Let's see some:
- specification of geographic area;
- mention of winemaking process;
- production chain (for example, Imbottigliato all'origine da... that means “Bottled at origin by...”);
- sugar content (for example, Dolce, that is Sweet)
- trade name (generally a fancy name);
- the brand (as the trade name, also fancy);
- identification of the producer and / or the distributor (not to be confused with the bottler, that is mandatory);
- the European logo of the presence of allergens;
- the logo of the organic product certification (if the wine is organic);
- the logo or the wording of the biodynamic production method (if the wine is produced with bio-dynamic methodologies)
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