What does DOC mean?
DOC is a protected designation of origin in Italy and Portugal: the wine comes from a defined area and follows its rules on grapes and yields.
Also known as: Denominazione di Origine Controllata, Denominação de Origem Controlada
In Italy DOC stands for Denominazione di Origine Controllata, in Portugal for Denominação de Origem Controlada. In both countries it is a protected designation of origin: the wine comes from a defined area and is made according to that area's rules.
Italy introduced the system in 1963, and today there are more than 300 DOC areas, from Valpolicella and Soave to Etna and Lugana. Each DOC has a production code, the disciplinare, setting permitted grape varieties, maximum yield, minimum alcohol and sometimes ageing time. Terms such as Classico, for the historic heart of an area, and Riserva, for longer ageing, are common.
Above DOC sits DOCG with even stricter rules, and below it IGT, Italy's protected geographical indication. An area can be promoted from DOC to DOCG after holding DOC for several years, currently at least seven.
In Portugal DOC is used for the classic regions, such as Douro, Dão, Vinho Verde and Bairrada. In the EU, DOC in both countries counts as a protected designation of origin, labelled DOP in Italian and Portuguese.