DOC Designation

An Italian abbreviation for "Denominazione di Origine Controllata" or “Controlled Denomination of Origin” which is a certification given to wines. The initials D.O.C. are placed on wine labels of reserved wines to certify that the wine complies with the requirements established for specific production regulations as well as national and community legislation. This Italian wine classification system was created in 1963 and has greatly increased the quality of wine exports from Italy. The D.O.C. indicates the geographical location where the wine must be produced, that it has met the standards of grape variety, color, flavor, aroma, acidity, alcohol content, period of aging, and the maximum yield required by the producer for certification. Only wine adhering to these precise regulations can be labeled with the D.O.C. geographical indication.