68 WINE LAW definitions, expressly refer to the abovementioned EU Regulations. However, article 28 of the Italian Consolidated Law on Wine provides for the protection of specific traditional names of geographical indications and designations of origin, concerning the wine sector. Indeed, PDOs are divided in two distinct categories: Controlled Designation of Origin (DOC in Italian) and Controlled and Guaranteed Designation of Origin (DOCG in Italian); wine PGIs are identified with the traditional name of Typical Geographical Indication (IGT in Italian). The traditional names adopted by the Italian legal system and the division of wine PDOs in two different levels mirror the structure established by Law Decree No. 930, of 12 July 1963, and Law No. 164, of 10 February 1992. These legal instruments – which have introduced the notion of Geographical Indications and Designations of Origin in Italy –, have successfully created a pyramidal system based on the idea that the main aim creating legal forms of protection shall be the qualitative enhancement of wine production. This is why PDO has been divided into two levels in order to create a category of production characterised by the maximum level of quality, corresponding to DOCG products, which are identified as the top of the pyramid. In order to obtain a GI or a DO, the producers of the concerned geographical area have to strictly follow specific requirements, regarding grapes and methods of production. These requirements are included in the specifications of production (or Use Regulation), ruled by article 35 of the Italian Consolidated Law on Wine. The requirements’ strictness follows the system’s pyramidal structure, from the IGT, at its base, to DOC and DOCG, which constitutes the highest qualitative level, with the most severe productive conditions. The strategy, which has been focusing on the promotion of quality through the establishment of strict requirements, has been successful. So much so that, nowadays, Italy protects an impressive amount of designations of origin and geographical indications. According to 2020 data of the Italian Ministry of Agriculture, there are, in Italy, 118 PGIs and 406 PDOs (the latter further divided between 75 DOCGs and 331 DOCs). Consequently, the total amount of protected PDOs e PGIs corresponds to 524, the highest number of the entire European Union5. Obviously, these numbers are not only the direct result of effective legislation. In fact, the rules established through the decades have merely tried to preserve, promote and enhance the qualitative characteristics of a wine production characterised by a great biodiversity. 5 Updated statistics available in: https://www.politicheagricole.it/flex/cm/pages/ServeBLOB.php/L/IT /IDPagina/309.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTE4NzM5Nw==