What does IGT mean?
IGT is Italy's protected geographical indication: the wine comes from a stated region but follows looser rules than DOC and DOCG.
Also known as: Indicazione Geografica Tipica
IGT stands for Indicazione Geografica Tipica and is Italy's protected geographical indication. It sits below DOC and DOCG but above wine without a geographical indication. The level was introduced in 1992, and today there are more than a hundred IGTs, such as Toscana, Terre Siciliane, Puglia and Veneto.
The rules are looser than for DOC. At least 85 per cent of the grapes must come from the stated area, but the producer can often choose more grape varieties, have higher yields and decide freely on ageing. Grape variety and vintage may appear on the label.
IGT is not necessarily a simpler wine. Many producers choose IGT deliberately so they can work with grapes or methods that DOC rules do not allow. The best-known example is the so-called Super Tuscans, where producers in Toscana from the 1970s onwards blended in cabernet sauvignon and merlot and sold the wines outside the classic system.
In the EU, IGT corresponds to a protected geographical indication, IGP, and both abbreviations can appear on Italian labels.