Denomination Rules Flashcards
Learn the rules for select Italian denominations, including wine style, varietal and aging requirements, and subzones
Aglianico del Taburno DOCG
Style: Red and Rosato still wines
Grape
85% (min) Aglianico
Minimum Aging:
2 years
(Riserva: 3 years with 1 year in wood)
Aglianico del Vulture DOC
Style: Red still wines
Grape
100% Aglianico
Minimum Aging
1 year
Aglianico del Vulture Superiore DOCG
Style: Red still wines
Grape
100% Aglianico
Minimum Aging
3 years with 1 year in wood
(Riserva: 5 years with 2 years in wood)
Alta Langa DOCG
Style: White or Rosato metodo classico wines
Grape
90% (min) Chardonnay and/or Pinot Nero
Minimum Aging
2 1/2 years
(Riserva: 3 years)
Alto Adige (Südtirol) DOC
White Wines
Bianco: 75% (min) Chardonnay, Pinot Bianco, and/or Pinot Grigio
Varietals
85% (min) of stated grape
Minimum Aging
(Riserva: 2 years)
Alto Adige (Südtirol) DOC
Red and Rosato Wines
Varietals: 85% (min) of stated grape
Minimum Aging
Riserva: 2 years
Alto Adige (Südtirol) DOC
White or Rosato Metodo Classico Wines
White: Any proportion of Chardonnay, Pinot Bianco, and/or Pinot Nero
Rosato
20% (min) Pinot Nero, 80% (max) Chardonnay and/or Pinot Bianco
Minimum Aging
20 months with 15 months on lees
(Riserva: 42 months with 3 years on lees)
Alto Adige (Südtirol) DOC
Other Wines
Klausner Laitacher (Red Blend)
Vendemmia Tardiva (Late Harvest)
Passito
Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG
Style: Red still wines
Grapes
45-95% Corvina and/or Corvinone, 5-30% Rondinella
Minimum Aging
2 years
(Riserva: 4 years)
Note: Appassimento, fermented dry
Asolo Prosecco DOCG
Style: White sparkling wine
Grape
85% (min) Glera
Minimum Aging
none
Note: Usually tank method but may be metodo classico
Asti DOCG
Moscato d’Asti
Style: White, sweet, frizzante wines
Grape
100% Moscato
Minimum Aging
none
Note: Always made by tank method, 4.5-6.5% ABV, can not exceed 2.5 atm of pressure
Asti DOCG
Asti
Style: White, typically sweet, sparkling wines
Grape: 100% Moscato
Minimum Aging: None
Note: Usually tank method but may be metodo classico, metodo classico must be dolce
Barbaresco DCOG
Style: Red still wines
Grape
100% Nebbiolo
Minimum Aging
2 years with 9 months in wood
(Riserva: 4 years with 9 months in wood)
Barbera d’Alba DOC
Style: Red still wines
Grape
85% (min) Barbera
Minimum Aging
(Superiore: 1 year with 4 months in wood)
Barbera d’Asti DOCG
Style: Red still or sparkling wines
Grape: 90% (min) Barbera
Minimum Aging
(Superiore: 1 year with 9 months in wood)
Note: Subzones have different aging requirements
Bardolino DOC
Chiaretto
Style: Rosato still wines
Grapes
30-80% Corvina and/or Corvinone, 10-40% Rondinella
Minimum Aging: none
Bardolino DOC
Rosso
Style: Red still wines
Grapes
30-80% Corvina and/or Corvinone, 10-40% Rondinella
Minimum Aging: none
Bardolino Superiore DOCG
Style: Red still wine
Grapes
35-80% Corvina and/or Corvinone, 10-40% Rondinella
Minimum Aging
1 year
Barolo DOCG
Style: Red still wine
Grape
100% Nebbiolo
Minimum Aging
3 years with 18 months in wood
(Riserva: 5 years with 18 months in wood)
Bianco di Custoza (Custoza) DOC
Style: White still, sparkling, or passito wine
Grapes
Any proportion of Friulano, Garganega, Trebbiano, and other approved white grapes
Minimum Aging: none
Bolgheri DOC
Bianco
Style: White still wines
Bianco
70% (max) Vermentino, 40% (max) Sauvignon Blanc and/or Trebbiano, 30% (max) other approved white grape
Varietals
85% (min) Sauvignon Blanc or Vermentino
Minimum Aging: none
Bolgheri DOC
Rosato and Rosso
Style: Rosato or red still wines
Grapes
Any proportion of Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, and/or Merlot, 50% (max) Sangiovese, 50% (max) Syrah
Minimum Aging
1 year
(Superiore: 2 years with 1 year in wood)
Brachetto d’Acqui (Acqui) DOCG
Style: Red, usually sweet sparkling wines
Grape
97% (min) Brachetto
Minimum Aging: none
Note: Usually tank method but may be metodo classico
Brunello di Montalcino DOCG
Style: Red still wine
Grape
100% Sangiovese
Minimum Aging
4 years with 2 years in wood
Riserva: 5 years with 2 years in wood
Cannonau di Sardegna DOC
Style: Red and rosato still wines
Rosso and Rosato
85% (min) Cannonau
Classico
90% (min) Cannonau
Minimum Aging
Classico: 2 years with 1 year in wood
Carmignano DOCG
Style: Red still wine
Grape
50% (min) Sangiovese, 10-20% Cabernet Franc and or Cabernet Sauvignon
Minimum Aging
20 months with 8 months in wood
(Riserva: 3 years with 1 year in wood)
Castel del Monte DOC
White Wines
Bianco
Any proportion of Bombino Bianco, Chardonnay, and/or Pampanuto
Varietals
90% (Min) Bombino Bianco, Chardonnay, or Sauvignon Blanc
Castel del Monte DOC
Rosato Wines
Grape
Any proportion of Aglianico, Bombino Nero, and/or Uva di Troia
Minimum Aging: none
Castel del Monte DOC
Red Wines
Rosso
Any proportion of Aglianico, Montepulciano, and/or Uva di Troia
Varietals
90% (min) Aglianico, Cabernet, or Uva di Troia
Minimum Aging
(Riserva: 2 years, 1 year in wood)
Castel del Monte Bombino Nero DOC
Style: Red still wine
Grape
90% (min) Bombino Nero
Minimum Aging: none
Castel del Monte Nero di Troia Riserva DOCG
Style
Red still wine
Grape
90% (min) Uva di Troia
Minimum Aging
2 years with 1 year in wood
Castel del Monte Rosso Riserva DOCG
Style: Red still wine
Grape
65% (min) Uva di Troia
Minimum Aging: none
Castelli di Jesi Verdicchio Riserva DOCG
Style: White still wine
Grape
85% (min) Verdicchio
Minimum Aging
18 months
Cerasuolo d’Abruzzo DOC
Style: Rosato still wine
Grape
85% (min) Montepulciano
Minimum Aging: none
Cerasuolo di Vittoria DOC
Style: Red still wine
Grape
50-70% Nero d’Avola, 30-50% Frappato
Minimum Aging
(Classico: 18 months)
Cesanese del Piglio (Piglio) DOCG
Style: Red still wine
Grape
90% (min) Cesanese
Minimum Aging
(Superiore: 18 months)
(Superiore Riserva: 20 months)
Cesanese di Afffile (Affile) DOC
Style: Red still wine
Grape
90% (min) Cesanese
Minimum Aging
(Riserva: 18 months)
Cesanese di Olevano Romano (Olevano Romano) DOC
Style: Red still wine
Grape: 85% (min) Cesanese
Minimum Aging
(Riserva: 2 years)
Chianti DOCG
Style: Red still wines
Grape
70% (min) Sangiovese
(75% min for subzones)
Minimum Aging
(Superiore: 1 year)
(Riserva: 2 years)
Note: Aging requirements differ for some subzones
Chianti Classico DOCG
Style: Red still wines
Grape: 80% (min) Sangiovese
Minimum Aging: 1 year (Riserva: 2 years) (Gran Selezione: 30 months)
Note: Grapes for Gran Selezione must be estate grown
Cirò DOC
White Wines
Bianco: 80% (min) Greco Bianco
Cirò DOC
Red and Rosato Wines
Grape
80% (min) Gaglioppo
Minimum Aging
(Rosso Riserva: 2 years)
Note: Classico comes from Cirò and Cirò Marina communes only.
Colli Bolognesi Pignoletto DOCG
Style: White still or sparkling wines
Grape
85% (min) Grechetto
Minimum Aging
(Classico Superiore: 1 year)
Colline Teramane Montepulciano d’Abruzzo DOCG
Style: Red still wines
Grape
90% (min) Montepulciano
Minimum Aging
1 year
(Riserva: 3 years with 1 year in wood)
Colli Goriziano (Collio) DOC
White Wines
Grapes
Chardonnay, Friulano, Pinot Bianco, Pinot Grigio, Ribolla Gialla, Sauvignon Blanc, and/or OAWG
Minimum Aging
(Riserva: 18 months)
Note: May be a blend or varietal
Colli Goriziano (Collio) DOC
Red Wines
Grapes
Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and/or Pinot Nero
Minimum Aging
(Riserva: 30 months with 6 months in wood)
Note: May be a blend or varietal
Conegliano-Valdobbiadene Prosecco DOCG
Style: White still and sparkling wines
Grapes
85% (min) Glera
Minimum Aging: None
Note: Usually tank method but may be metodo classico; Spumante Superiore may include Chardonnay, Pinot Bianco, Pinot Grigio, and Pinot Nero
Cònero DOCG
Style: Red still wine
Grape
85% Montepulciano
Minimum Aging
2 years
Delle Venezie DOC
Style: White still and sparkling wines
Grape
85% (min) Pinot Grigio
Minimum Aging: none
Note: Non-varietal Bianchi are also produced
Diano d’Alba (Dolcetto Diano d’Alba) DOCG
Style: Red still wine
Grape: 100% Dolcetto
Minimum Aging
(Superiore: 1 year)
Dogliani DOCG
Style: Red still wine
Grape
100% Dolcetto
Minimum Aging
1 year
Dolcetto d’Acqui DOC
Style: Red still wine
Grape
100% Dolcetto
Minimum Aging
(Superiore: 1 year)
Dolcetto d’Alba DOC
Style: Red still wine
Grape
100% Dolcetto
Minimum Aging
(Superiore: 1 year)
Dolcetto d’Asti DOC
Style: Red still wines
Grape
100% Dolcetto
Minimum Aging
(Superiore: 1 year)
Erbaluce di Caluso DOCG
Style: White still wine
Grape
100% Erbaluce
Minimum Aging: none
Note: Also produces metodo classico and passito wines
Est! Est!! Est!!! di Montefiascone DOC
Style: White still wine
Grape
75% (min) Trebbiano Toscano and Trebbiano Giallo/Rossetto, 10-20% Malvasia
Minimum Aging: none
Note: Also produces sparkling wine
Etna DOC
White Wines
Bianco
60% (min) Carricante
Superiore
80% (min) Carricante
Spumante
60% (min) Nerello Mascalese
Minimum Aging: none
Note: Spumante must be metodo classico
Etna DOC
Red and Rosato Wines
Grapes
80% (min) Nerello Mascalese, 20% (max) Nerello Cappuccio
Rosato Spumante
60% (min) Nerello Mascalese
Minimum Aging
(Rosso Riserva: 4 years, 1 year in wood)
Falanghina del Sannio DOC
Style: White still wine
Grape: 85% (min) Falanghina
Note: Also produces sparkling, vendemmia tardiva, and passito wines
Fiano di Avellino DOCG
Style: White still wine
Grape
85% (min) Fiano
Minimum Aging: none
Franciacorta DOCG
Style: White or rosato sparkling wines
Bianco
50% (min) Chardonnay and/or Pinot Nero, 50% (max) Pinot Bianco
Rosato
25% (min) Pinot Nero
Satén
No Pinot Nero permitted
Minimum Aging 18 months on lees (Rosato and Satén: 2 years on lees) (Millesimato: 30 months on lees) (Riserva: 5 years on lees)
Frascati DOC
Style: White still wine
Grape: 70% (min) Malvasia
Minimum Aging: none
Frascati Superiore DOCG
Style: White still wine
Grape
70% (min) Malvasia
Minimum Aging
(Riserva: 1 year)