Sunday, October 11, 2009

The Best Italian DOCG list? (now up to 47)

Revised Oct 10, 2009
In my research, it has been all but impossible to pinpoint the complete list of Italian DOCG wines. Recently, I have been able to find six more, Moscato di Scanzo, Elba Aleatico Passito and Prosecco Superiore Conegliano Valdobbiadene, Prosecco Superiore Asolo And a two Marche DOCG's of Verdicchio of which there are designations for Verdicchio di Matelica and Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi Classico (and riserva) , bringing the list up to 47.

If anyone knows of any more DOCG wines, or if there is a list available that is more complete or accurate, please feel free to contact me. I have looked on the Italian Trade Commission site; they still list only 35 wines. Wikipedia lists 36 wines.Winecountry.it only lists 32 wines. Luca Zaia’s website has nothing on the DOCG, but he’s just the minister of agriculture, why would he need to have one? I guess having seven Facebook pages (one personal and six groups, sorry you have to be a member to follow the link) makes up for it. There’s nothing to be found about it on the Italian Wine Merchants site, but then again, they make no claims to be the best educational site for Italian wines, just this statement, “Since 1999, Italian Wine Merchants (IWM) has worked diligently to demystify Italian wine through its detailed website and weekly E-letter, Wine Clubs, educational tasting events and a carefully selected portfolio of current and vintage Italian bottlings.” But no demystifying by listing a current and complete DOCG list can be readily found on their site.

Update: Tomas E. of the Wikipedia Project wine also has this nifty document, where on pages 40-41 you can find the 41 DOCG wines listed.They also have yet to put up the Elba Aleatico Passito and the Moscato di Scanzo but by the time this gets posted, they might already have it updated. Thanks Tomas!)

The best site so far is in Italian, Agraria, which has 41. Please do not write me and tell me that they have 43 because that is what you counted. They have Moscato d'Asti listed separately, but it falls within the Asti DOCG, OK? Also at the end they list Vin Santo. At this time it is not DOCG. They also do not have the three new DOCG's (that I know of) listed on their site(as of March 22, 2009).

Update 2: Luca Zaia has brought in another DOCG for Prosecco. Read about his accomplishments and achievements here. Thanks to Laura De Pasquale for the info. And thank you, Dr. Zaia!

I fear I am missing something, but for the life of me, the byzantine workings of the Italian government and the folks who determine which wines will be awarded DOCG status eludes this most ardent researcher. I guess I haven’t learned the secret handshake. Until then, we are at either 46 wines or 48, as of October 10, 2009, which have been given DOCG status. Here is the list, after the jump.

Complete Listing of Italian DOCG Wines (as of October 2009) : 47

Abruzzo (1)
Montepulciano d'Abruzzo "Colline Teramane"

Campania (3)
Fiano di Avellino
Greco di Tufo
Taurasi

Emilia Romagna (1)
Albana di Romagna

Friuli-Venezia Giulia (2)
Colli Orientali del Friuli Picolit
Ramandolo

Lazio (1)
Cesanese del Piglio

Lombardia (5)
Franciacorta
Oltrepo Pavese
Sforzato della Valtellina
Valtellina Superiore
Moscato di Scanzo (new)

Marche (4)
Conero
Vernaccia di Serrapetrona
Verdicchio di Matelica Riserva (new)
Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi Classico  Riserva(new)

Piemonte (12)
Asti spumante - Moscato d'Asti
Barbaresco
Barbera d'Asti
Barbera del Monferrato Superiore
Barolo (Chinato, as well, falls under this DOCG)
Brachetto D'Acqui o Acqui
Dolcetto di Dogliani Superiore o Dogliani
Dolcetto di Ovada Superiore
Gattinara
Gavi o Cortese di Gavi
Ghemme
Roero (Rosso & Bianco)

Sardegna (1)
Vermentino di Gallura

Sicilia (1)
Cerasuolo di Vittoria

Toscana (8)
Brunello di Montalcino
Carmignano
Chianti
Chianti Classico
Elba Aleatico Passito (new)
Morellino di Scansano
Vernaccia di S.Gimignano
Vino Nobile di Montepulciano

Umbria (2)
Montefalco Sagrantino
Torgiano Rosso Riserva

Veneto (6)
Bardolino Superiore
Recioto di Gambellara
Recioto di Soave
Soave Superiore
Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore (new)
Asolo Prosecco Superiore (new)



32 comments:

Anonymous said...

As with all things Italian, one is not quite sure. This one of many things I love about Italy.

Anonymous said...

While it doesn't have a complete DOCG list either my favorite website for Italian wine research is ItalianMade.com. It doesn't seem to be updated frequently but it has a lot of good detailed info including large sections about history and regional foods.

Anonymous said...

And don't forget Puglia: it has no docg, but ...

Anonymous said...

Your comparison to "our" list was brought to the attention of Wikipedia's Project Wine. I believe the best source could well be http://bit.ly/KZf9n, the EU list of all Quality Wines "p.s.r.", which is equal to DOC and DOCG in Italy. The DOCGs, as listed on p. 39-40 in this 10.02.2009 version of the list is identical to yours, except that the two additions in red don't appear. If they are DOCGs, they must be very new, since this list is regularly updated. "Picolit" should also be "Colli Oriental del Friuli Picolit".

Alfonso Cevola said...

Thanks Tomas.

I have linked the two new DOCG's on the post so you can check them out. Thanks for your input.

Unknown said...

There's an article in Il Mio Vino (USA edition) called "Are DOC Zones Synonymous with Quality" which covers some of this pretty well. There's a map and some cool visuals in the article. Usually you have to pay about five bucks a year for the magazine but they're running a promo right now where you can get a free issue. I think you can get the DOC zone article here. (Landing page for the free issue).

Jeff Siegel said...

Let's see. Who knows more or cares more about Italian wine than you do, Alfonso? No one, including the Italians. That's why it's your responsibility to do the list.

Alfonso Cevola said...

you know Jeff, it's comments like that that'll get you an American Squirrel Wine Blog Award.


Will, thanks for the info, nice magazine.

Unknown said...

Anytime, Alfonso. Cool blog!

Tracie P. said...

you know how italians feel about being precisi!

Anonymous said...

well i think you have done a great job, i reference this site often. Cheers tpetito

Alfonso Cevola said...

Thanks Thomas. Good luck with your wine project!

enzo said...

arrived in düsseldorf this morning for prowein. about to go for supper with top export rep from astoria lounge prosecco. i'll bet he's over the moon about its new docg status.

ciao,
'enzo
--
http://twitter.com/_enzo

Il Mio Vino said...

So how many people in this thread are going to Vinitaly? My magazine Il Mio Vino is going. I know Lorenzo is going. Anyone else here? - Will Conley

obwnknobe said...

Ciao, Thanks for the up to date information. However, does it really matter?

Alfonso Cevola said...

To some, Charles, yes it does matter. I'm interested in knowing how many DOCG wines people have really tasted, of the 44, I have tried 41.

Hande said...

Great and most complete list to date, thank you. Just one comment: I think the Prosecco DOCG are 2, bringing the total to 45. Please read these for this information:

http://bit.ly/12Kzuv
http://bit.ly/xbS5D

Alfonso Cevola said...

Thanks, Hande

It has been my understanding that the two areas, Valdobbiabene and Congliano, share the DOCG. But this is Italy, so one never knews, eh?

We'll keep an eye out for a clarification, thanks so very much!

Alfonso Cevola said...

It appears they are two DOCG's for the Prosecco, according to this report

http://bit.ly/UxxVD

Thank you, Dr. Zaia!

Alexil28 said...

Hello, the Marche region has 2 new DOCG

Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi Riserva

Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi Classico Riserva

http://www.enotecaletteraria.it/tag/verdicchio-dei-castelli-di-jesi

Alfonso Cevola said...

So, as I understand it we now have two DOCG's for Verdicchio

Matelica and
Jesi

And that would leave us with 47 DOCGS's (for now)

this has been reported and confirmed by DoBianchi

Grazie, Dottore

Unknown said...

Always such a great read.

Thank you,

Michael Vickery

Intensieve berggeiten said...

Verdicchio ? And Amarone delle Valpolicella????

Intensieve berggeiten said...

I`m missing amarone......

Alfonso Cevola said...

The Italian DOC/G system does (and doesn’t) matter http://bit.ly/1KQW2C (From DoBianchi)

Wine openers said...

AC:
Jeff Siegel is right. If not you, who? If not now, when?
Reading this (http://bit.ly/12Kzuve)
in my poor Italian it seems there is one DOCG for Conegliano Valdobbiadene and another for Colli Asolani.
Did I miss something?
And DB's comment about DOCGs role of protecting “the territory,” i.e., the production zone and the people who live there and make wine" is exactly what I heard from the Italian winemakers themselves, who were concerned about the uncontrolled spread of competing Prosecco.
A good topic (perhaps a bit abstruse for most Americans) to chase around at VinItaly.
You're the best, AC.
cheers..

michelecolline said...

The wine site Lavinium lists 44 DOCGs. While living in Italy I would read about their approval(the new DOCGs)but it could be confusing because it would be a year of two before that particular vintage hit the shelves.

Alfonso Cevola said...

Hi Dave (Wineopeners)-

I posted about the two Proseccos in July here: http://acevola.blogspot.com/2009/07/docg-misfits.html

It appears they are two DOCG's for the Prosecco, according to this report: http://bit.ly/UxxVD

not sure what your link was, it didn't come through. But thanks for checking in. Sure good to hear from you.


Yes Michele-
The Italian sites that I have dug up, seem to be a little behind in their paperwork. as Jeremy likes to say, a result of "our Protestant need for precision."


De Wijnliefhebber-
Amarone? That is a whole 'nother story. And now the gates are closed for new DOCG's. SO we might not ever know. Sorry, mate.

Anonymous said...

So does this mean you are the world authority on DOC/Gs? I mean, who else would it be?

Unknown said...

Great work!
Up to now, this was my source:
http://www.politicheagricole.it/ProdottiQualita/default
(scroll down to "Norme e Documenti in evidenza", you find 3 pdf's there). At this moment, they list 41 docg's (last update dec 2008).

Suzanne

Unknown said...

Amarone is now also DOCG and just in time!

(see http://www.consorziovalpolicella.it/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=213&Itemid=42&lang=it).

Now the gate for DOCG is closed, I would like to find a reliable source of all the DOC's. Anyone?

Alfonso Cevola said...

-->PRSP6667, where you been? We reported Amarone on Dec 17 with The Newest Best Italian DOCG list? (now up to 48 and counting)
As far as DOC's go, that is a mammoth undertaking and one I would do if someone wanted to fund it.

As far as the gate being closed for DOCG's, remember, this is Italy. It is possible there are a few more that got in under the gate. Check back on these pages and we'll do our best to keep you and all our readers informed.

Thanks for checking in

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