DOC vs DOCG: Quick Guide

Italian DOCG wines have the highest quality standards and go through a tasting panel. DOC wines are good but below DOCG. DOC wines are less expensive than DOCG wines. Here’s a quick guide on how Italian wine classifications and the difference between DOC and DOCG Italian wines. Side-By-Side Comparison: DOC vs DOCG Key Points on […]

Alcohol’s Influence on Wine Aging Potential

You’re right to think that alcohol has something to do with a wine’s aging potential. Wines with higher alcohol levels (+14%) can usually age longer than lower-alcohol wines (under 14%). Alcohol acts as a natural preservative and antioxidant in wine. Examples include Amarone, Port, Madeira, and Shiraz. Some lower-alcohol wines can also age, though, like […]

What’s the Bitter Taste After Wine?

It’s an unpleasant surprise to sniff a rich bouquet of fruits in your glass of wine and take a confident sip that delivers an intensive burst of flavor, only to have a nasty bitterness settle in your mouth. What’s going on? Why’s your wine bitter? If you taste bitterness after you swallow a sip of […]

What’s Better? DOCG, DOC, IGT, and VdT Italian Wines

Reading Italian wine labels can feel a little cryptic, especially if you’re standing in the wine aisle of your local store and holding two bottles that look essentially the same.  If you want the highest quality Italian wines, then choose a DOCG Italian wine, sometimes written out as Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita. DOC […]