Prosecco Secrets: DOC, DOCG and IGT

2. Region  and Denomination

Copyright (c) 123RF Stock Photos

Yes, finally it is here: Prosecco Secrets Part 2. As promised in part 1 ‘Prosecco Bubbly and Sparkling’, we will discuss in further depth the Prosecco Region and Denomination. The story of the Prosecco production area is quite an interesting one as there have seen some changes in the recent years. Don’t be afraid, we have kept it short and simple again in the hope that it is enjoyable to everyone. 

Prosecco special since 2009

Anyone that is a little bit familiar with drinking wine has probably moved an eyebrow after reading the subtitle. Did you know that before 2009 Prosecco could be made anywhere in Europe?  It is not that remarkable when you know that the grape used in ‘Prosecco’ was called just like that: ‘Prosecco’.

It is only since the harvest of 2009 that by European law only wine made in a precisely defined area can be called Prosecco. All other wines of the same grape, now called ‘Glera’, outside this region cannot be called Prosecco; well at least in the EU.  It also meant that we had to say “Addio” to the Prosecco Raboso (the pink one) which contains the Raboso grape instead of the ‘Glera’.

Finally, this new EU legislation also means that Prosecco can now only be sold in glass bottles.  We know what you are thinking “well… in what else?” Think again… Rich® Prosecco, a brand that was launched by celebrity Paris Hilton – and “sadly” not available in the UK -  had to change its packaging from cans to bottles as per regulation.

But now let us give you some more details about the region and the denomination. You will see that this has changed as well in 2009. 

Prosecco Denomination and Region

Prosecco from Europe is geographically protected (denomination) and it can only be produced in the Italian area of Conegliano-Valdobbiadene,  Montello e Colli Asolani, Belluno, Gorizia, Padova, Pordenone, Treviso, Trieste, Udine, Venezia, and Vicenza.  Yes, you read it well: only in the EU. 

But, as Prosecco originally took its name from the grape of which it is made - instead of the location the wine comes from such as for Barolo - you may still come across wines called Prosecco outside the EU such as Australian ones. Be aware of imitations! The only Prosecco that would behave in your mouth and on your nose as you would like it are the following two varieties.

Prosecco DOCG, Vettori

Prosecco DOCG 

DOCG stands for Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita (literally translated Denomination of Origin Controlled and Guaranteed… by Italy’s Minister of Agriculture). It is the best guarantee of quality for an Italian wine. Each DOCG wine is produced under tight regulations. Just as tight as the maximum amount of grapes that can be cultivated per hectar, to minimum number of years to be spent ageing in a barrel, to where the wine may be bottled and so on. Every wine that is labelled with DOCG is also analysed and blind-tasted by Italian Ministry of Agriculture Officials to guarantee the quality and authenticity. And if it passes all these rigid tests, it finally receives (we might say “deserve”) a uniquely numbered seal by the Mint ensuring that it arrives in your glass with the approved quality. So, if the seal is broken, don’t buy it!

The same applies of course to Prosecco DOCG. DOCG means the wine is guaranteed from the Conegliano-Valdobbiadene and  Montello e Colli Asolani area . It also secures that the wine is made from at a minimum of 85% Glera grapes. Producers may only produce 70 liter Prosecco of 100kg grapes to guarantee the concentration; but we will go into the details of the production method in one of our next posts.

Prosecco DOC

DOC means Denominazione di Origine Controllata will give you the hint that the wines are produced in the areas Belluno, Gorizia, Padova, Pordenone, Treviso, Trieste, Udine, Venezia, and Vicenza. The wine bottling has to happen in these nine areas and can only happen outside this area if the bottler is able to proof he bottled Prosecco since 2004 or before.

Before 2009 most of the now called Prosecco DOC was labelled Prosecco IGT. IGT stand for Indicazione Geografica Tipica and can be freely translated to: Indication of geographic area the product comes from. The DOC roughly applies to the Prosecco IGT wines produced before 2009.  The maximum grape yield is 1.8kg per/m² to guarantee the grape quality. The DOC is also subject to analysis before it can go in the bottle. 

Tip: Want to know even more? Look at our website for further information about classification. 

Which Prosecco is in your glass?

Getting your head around it? Don’t worry. To make sure you know what you are drinking next time you order a Prosecco, we give you a little recap; it is all divided between pre & post 2009 change in regulations.

NV Prosecco Raboso IGT, Riondo

Prosecco pre-2009 

• Prosecco IGT (Vintage & NV): Prosecco IGT was the name of all Prosecco wines produced outside the DOC area before 2009. 
• Prosecco Raboso IGT: This pink Prosecco was made mainly from the Raboso grape. Although no longer legal to label a sparkling wine made with Raboso grape “Prosecco” you might still come across examples of it as it can be happily stored in bottles for years.
• Prosecco DOC: Only those produced in Conegliano & Valdobbiadene could be labelled DOC

Prosecco post-2009

• Prosecco DOC: If the label says 2010 or older, that Prosecco will have been produced in one of these areas: Belluno, Gorizia, Padova, Pordenone, Treviso, Trieste, Udine, Venezia, or Vicenza (roughly the old IGT area).
• Prosecco DOCG: Congratulations! This is a 2010 or vintages only. You have found a new released Prosecco made in the Conegliano-Valdobbiadene or Montello e Colli Asolani area (roughly the old DOC area). This is truly the Rolls Royce of Prosecco and do not be afraid to pay that little extra for it, as it is worth every penny. Have a look at Vettori Winery to get a feel of where the Prosecco DOCG in our shop comes from.

Enjoy! And watch out for our next Prosecco Secrets: It is dry and sweet!

Pssst: Extra tip to impress your friends. Have a look at how to open a bottle of sparkling wine

Italian Sparkling wines to celebrate 2011

Browse around the web this time of year and you will find an awful lot of articles about Champagne. And to be honest there is a lot to say about Champagne. For example, did you know that it were the Britons that favoured the bubbles in the Champagne while initially the French disapproved the wine because of the bubbles? But enough about Champagne as we think there are enough delicious Italian sparkling wines or may I say Spumanti's to celebrate a new year. We have made a small selection to introduce.

Prosecco
Every occasion is a Prosecco moment in Italy, but as I wrote in my first post  Prosecco is also becoming hugely popular in the UK. Easier to drink than champagne, it is the sparkling wine we cannot miss out on this time of year. Produced in different areas of the Veneto region, its super fine, silky bubbles are created with the “Metodo Italiano”. This means that unlike with the Classic Method (champagne), the second fermentation of the grape juices takes place in the production tank instead of the bottle itself. This less labour intensive process is also one the reasons why Prosecco is more affordable. In generally Prosecco is an easy wine to drink due to its delicate apples and pears aromas and a low alcohol percentage of 11% or 12%. So, keep an eye on this blog because we will explain all the secrets of Prosecco in a series of future posts. Meanwhile, you can start with this special effervescent pink Prosecco Raboso IGT from Riondo. Yes, it is pink in colour, but it cannot be called “rosé” as M&S learnt the hard way… but this is a story for our future posts… Enjoy!


Franciacorta DOCG
This sparkling wine is one of my favourites for special occasions as it shows great elegance and complexity. Franciacorta has DOCG status and it is produced from grapes grown within the boundaries of the territory of Franciacorta. This wine production area is located on the hills of a series of townships to the south of Lake Iseo in the Province of Brescia, in the North region of Lombardy. It is produced using the “Metodo Classico” (Traditional Method, same as Champagne) and with a soil and micro-climate similar to those of the Champagne region in France, this wine is capable to deliver the same level of richness and taste-complexity at a fraction of the price.

By now you are probably wondering what “Metodo Classico”, micro-climate and taste-complexity mean. But do not despair, we are here to help as this is just the first of a series of blogs on Sparkling Italian wines. So just keep reading us and you’ll become an expert in no time! In the meantime, try something really different with this award winning “Brolese” Franciacorta DOCG Rosè of the Muratori' brothers. This excellent Blanc de Blancs from the Villa Crespia Vineyard has a long harmonious finish that is elegant and very well balanced. Read more


Felice Anno Nuove
As you can see there is a sparkling wine for every taste and all of them with their own unique personality just like a true Italian! We wish you all a Happy New year.