Until the Gloria law in 1992, appellations were little used in Italy; it is better to prioritize reputation and quality for wines produced before that year. Moreover, the best wines were simple table wines because estates wanted, for example, to be able to use French grape varieties.
Note that many producers of very high-quality wines still refuse this regulation, and benefit only from the “vino da tavola” (table wine) designation, possibly IG; they are notoriously nicknamed “super-tavola”.
European regulation superseded the former national legislation; wines have been classified since 1992 into:
- Denominazioni di Origine Controllata e Garantita (DOCG) Denominations of Controlled and Guaranteed Origin.
- Denominazioni di Origine Controllata (DOC). Denominations of Controlled Origin.
- Indicazione Geografica Tipica (IGT) Typical Geographical Indication: intermediate between table wines and DOC, often of quality but which do not fully comply with a DOC’s specifications (non-compliant blending of grape varieties, production outside the zone, …).
- Vini da tavola. Table wines.
