Denominazione di Origine Controllata (DOC)
[deh-NAW-mee-nah-TSYAW-neh dee oh-REE-jee-neh con-traw-LAH-tah] Established in 1963 and implemented in 1966, the Denominazione di Origine Controllata (DOC) ("Controlled Denomination of Origin") is Italy's system for ensuring quality wines, equivalent to France's appellation d'origine contrôlée. DOCs are defined by the geographic area of production for each wine, the varieties that can be used, the minimum alcohol content, the maximum yield and the specifications for aging. In 1990, tasting commissions introduced standards for appearance, color, bouquet, and flavor. In addition, chemical analysis is performed to determine levels of alcohol, acidity and residual sugar. As with the systems implemented in France, Spain, and other countries, the DOC system doesn't guarantee quality, but it does nudge a majority of the wines in that direction. There are now over 320 DOC zones, including a small group belonging to a new, more elite level called denominazione di origine controllata e garantita. An issue that many wine experts have with the DOC rules is their strict disposition toward traditional winemaking techniques and grape varieties. They haven't adapted to the many new techniques or the successful production of wines from nontraditional varieties (for each particular growing region). As a result, many excellent wines that are being produced by these modern methods or using nontraditional grapes can't qualify for DOC status. Instead, they must use the lower-ranking vino da tavola classification on their labels.
