The top
tier of the
Italian appellation system.
DOCG stands for
Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita (Certification of Controlled and Guaranteed Origin). Each DOCG is named for the characteristic
wine of the region, and the
classification is meant to
enforce rigid farming and
fermentation practices. The wines must also
pass muster with a
tasting panel. As a result, many of these
traditional Italian wines have improved markedly in quality over the years. The list is not
static, but new
DOCGs are added
infrequently, and such additions (as in the case of
Albana di Romagna) are sometimes
controversial.
And the axiom about appellations applies: just because a wine has been given a DOCG status, it doesn't mean that the grape juice in the bottle is actually any good. But it does give you a place to start.
The current DOCG wines are:
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