Today is Monday, May 29, 2006
IGT - INDICAZIONE GEOGRAFICA TIPICA

In 1992, the Italian government adopted Law No. 164, which modified and expanded the DOC system. Among the law's most sweeping innovations was the introduction of the Indicazione Geografica Tipica (IGT) category. By the end of 2002, the National DOC Wine Committee had recognized about 200 IGT classifications.

The IGT opened up new paths for winemakers who wanted to venture outside the relatively strict confines of the DOC and DOCG categories without, however, making concessions on the level of quality. The IGT regulations require use of authorized varieties and most of the production codes adopted to date provide for the use of one type alone or in a ratio of at least 85% to other approved grapes.

The IGT wines are identified with specific territories, most of which are larger than the zones specified in the regulations for DOCGs and DOCs. Some are region-wide, as in the case of Toscano in Tuscany and Sicilia on Sicily, while others are limited to a valley or a range of hills. For consumers, the IGT primarily means a wide range of wines of good quality available at highly competitive prices.

In recent years, DOC and DOCG wines have accounted for about 20% of Italy's total production. With their establishment of the IGT category, Italian authorities have set their sights on achieving a ratio of appellation wines to total domestic output of 50% and more.

VINO DA TAVOLA

IThe Italian term Vino da tavola means, literally, table wine. In reality, it refers to wines without appellations or ordinary wines. There are no regulations for the category beyond those imposed by health, safety and fiscal authorities, which are of general application.

In the period immediately following the introduction of the DOC system, many producers throughout Italy began to engage in far-reaching experiments. They developed wines that, in many cases, attracted praise and consumers throughout the world. But the varieties of grapes they used and/or the techniques of vinification or maturation they adopted were not authorized within DOC production regulations. As a result, many of Italy's most exciting wines - at least in the opinion of critics and aficionados worldwide, as indicated by the high prices that many were able to fetch - were relegated to Vino da tavola status. Notable examples are Sassicaia and Tignanello from Tuscany to mention few.

In creating the Indicazione Geografica Tipica (IGT) category, Italian authorities provided a way for producers to obtain official recognition of their wines. In addition, revisions in individual DOC regulations have made it possible to incorporate specific vini da tavola.

The category will remain in place, since some of the new wines will still not satisfy the DOC or IGT requirements, but it is certain to shrink substantially in the future