How to Read an Italian Wine Label

Making sense of an Italian wine label can sometimes be a confusing task. What do all of those initials mean?  Is that a place name or a grape name?  Unlike French wines, Italian wines have no hard and fast rules to labeling, but with a little practice, you too can be fluent in Italian wine labeling.

The most important components of an Italian wine label are the place name and the grape varietal. Knowing the unique grapes used in Italian wines and having a good geographic sense of Italy will get you through all but the most confusing wine labels.

Italian Grape Varietals

Many grapes used in Italian wines are grown exclusively or primarily in Italy. Some of the more commonly used grapes in Italian wines are:

• Sangiovese – the grape used in crafting Chianti and as a major component in Brunello di Montalcino and Vino Nobile di Montalcino

• Nebbiolo -- a grape that thrives in Italy's northern Piedmont region.  It's used to create the lush red wines, including Barolo and Barbaresco.

• Barbera – a low-acidic grape, also grown in Northern Italy.  It is used to create Barbera d'Asti wines, among others.

• Trebbiano – The most common (but not necessarily the best) white wine grape in Italy.  Trebbiano is generally best when combined with other wine grapes.

• Arneis – This white wine grape, grown in Piedmont, is not well known in North America.  It's used to create flavorful, low-acid white wines of the same name.

• Pinot Grigio – Although not unique to Italy (the French call it Pinot Gris), Italy is known for its light drinkable whites made from this grape.

Place Names

Place names on Italian wine labels are based on Italy's wine laws. Within these laws, there are three main categories:

• DOCG (Denominatzione di Origine Controllata e Garantita) roughly, a guaranteed place name

• DOC (Denominazione di Origine Controllata), roughly translated, it means a protected place name.

• IGT (Indicazione Geografica Tipica) a typical place name

The DOC designation is given to over three hundred Italian wine growing areas. This designation specifies and regulates such things as area of production, permissible grape varietals, maximum yield of grapes per acre, minimum alcohol content, aging requirement, and such vineyard practices as pruning and trellising. In addition, to be eligible for a DOC designation, wines must pass a taste test and a chemical analysis.

The DOCG designation has an even stricter set of guidelines than DOC.

IGT wines must also meet geographic and grape varietals requirements, but the standards are less stringent for this designation. There are about 120 IGT areas in Italy.  

Wines without one of these designations are labeled "vino da tavola" or "table wine." Similar to the French "vin de pays," this designation is a catch-all for all kinds of wine – the good, the bad, and the so-so.

Generally, but not always, a wine with a DOCG is superior to a wine with a DOC designation and a wine with a DOC is superior to an IGT wine. However, there are Italian winemakers who make very good wine without participating in the government controlled system.

Other Italian Wine Words

In addition to words about place and grape varietal, some words on wine labels describe the characteristics of the wine.  Some of the more common of these are:

• Spumante – sparkling

• Bianco – white

• Rosso – red

• Chiaretto – rose

• Secco – dry

• Dolce – sweet

So don't be afraid of Italian wines when you go wine shopping.  With just a few words at your command, it's relatively easy to make sense of all of your choices.