Prosecco DOC and DOCG: what the labels mean

Quick answer

DOC and DOCG are Italian designations that connect a qualifying wine with a defined place and a set of production rules.

Prosecco DOC is the broad designation. Its territory extends across five provinces in Veneto and four in Friuli-Venezia Giulia, in north-eastern Italy.

Prosecco DOCG refers principally to two separate, more tightly defined designations:

• Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore DOCG, in the hills around Conegliano and Valdobbiadene; and
• Asolo Prosecco DOCG, associated with the Asolo area.

Both designations are generally based on the grape Glera, and most familiar sparkling Prosecco is made using tank fermentation. But these are separate ideas: the designation describes protected origin and rules, the grape describes what is grown, and the method describes how the bubbles are made.

The important label lesson is that DOCG is not a universal quality score. It tells you about a wine’s geographic designation and compliance with its rules. Whether you enjoy the wine still depends on the producer, site, vintage, storage and your own taste.

Where is Prosecco?

The hierarchy is:

Italy → Veneto and Friuli-Venezia Giulia → Prosecco DOC and Prosecco DOCG designations

Prosecco DOC spans the Veneto provinces of Belluno, Padua, Treviso, Venice and Vicenza, plus Gorizia, Pordenone, Trieste and Udine in Friuli-Venezia Giulia.

That is a much broader area than many people imagine when they hear “Prosecco”. The designation is not limited to one town or one hillside.

For orientation, Treviso is the most useful regional centre for understanding the DOCG areas. Conegliano and Valdobbiadene are the paired place names associated with Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore DOCG. Asolo identifies a separate DOCG area. Venice is a familiar major-city reference: the Conegliano Valdobbiadene area lies roughly north of Venice, about 50 kilometres away according to the regional consortium’s broad geographic description. That is an orientation, not a promise of a particular driving time.

A town name and a protected designation are not interchangeable. “Asolo” on a qualifying label points to a particular DOCG designation; it does not mean that every wine made near the town is automatically DOCG.

What do DOC and DOCG mean?

DOC stands for Denominazione di Origine Controllata, usually translated as “Controlled Designation of Origin”.

DOCG stands for Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita, or “Controlled and Guaranteed Designation of Origin”.

In practical terms, these designations can set rules for:

• where grapes are grown and wine is made;
• permitted grape varieties;
• vineyard yields;
• production categories and techniques;
• analytical requirements;
• tasting or release checks;
• labelling and presentation.

The Italian system sits within the wider European framework of protected geographical designations. In other words, the name is not simply describing a flavour or a grape. It is a regulated place name.

DOCG involves additional official controls, including an identification strip on qualifying bottles. That makes DOCG useful information when reading a label, but it does not make it a guarantee of personal enjoyment.

Conegliano Valdobbiadene and Asolo are different DOCGs

Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore DOCG covers a hilly area of 15 communes between the two defining towns. Labels may also refer to Conegliano or Valdobbiadene, and may include terms such as Rive or Cartizze.

These terms are not synonyms:

• Conegliano and Valdobbiadene identify parts of the DOCG geography.
• Rive refers to more specific local categories within the designation, with additional requirements.
• Cartizze refers to a defined subzone around parts of Valdobbiadene.
• Sui lieviti describes a lees-contact style rather than a separate DOCG.

Asolo Prosecco DOCG is separate. It is not a subzone of Conegliano Valdobbiadene. A bottle may show wording such as Asolo Prosecco DOCG or Asolo Prosecco Superiore DOCG, subject to the applicable labelling rules.

The practical comparison is simple:

• Prosecco DOC: broad protected origin across nine provinces.
• Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore DOCG: a defined hill designation around Conegliano and Valdobbiadene.
• Asolo Prosecco DOCG: a separate defined designation around Asolo.

Neither DOCG should be reduced to “the better Prosecco”. The legal distinction is about place and production rules, not an automatic ranking of every bottle.

Glera, bubbles and sweetness

Glera is the principal grape associated with Prosecco. The name matters because “Prosecco” was once used in connection with the vine variety, but the grape is now identified as Glera to distinguish it from the protected wine designation.

That means a wine made from Glera is not automatically Prosecco DOC or DOCG. Origin and compliance with the relevant specification matter as well.

Most familiar sparkling Prosecco is associated with the tank method, in which the second fermentation that creates the bubbles takes place in a pressurised tank. This helps preserve a fresh, fruit-focused style, but tank method is not the definition of DOC or DOCG. Prosecco designations can include sparkling, semi-sparkling and still categories, so not every qualifying wine has the same level of fizz.

Sweetness terms can also surprise Australian readers. Common terms include Brut Nature, Extra Brut, Brut, Extra Dry, Dry and Demi-sec. In particular, Extra Dry is generally sweeter than Brut. The word “dry” does not mean it is the driest category.

What DOCG does—and does not—tell you

DOCG can tell you that a wine belongs to a more narrowly defined and controlled designation. It can provide useful information about:

• geographic origin;
• permitted grapes;
• production requirements;
• wine category;
• labelling and official checks.

It does not guarantee:

• that the wine will suit your palate;
• a particular flavour profile;
• absolute freshness;
• a higher price;
• universal superiority over DOC wine.

Think of DOCG as a detailed answer to “Where is this from, and which rules does it follow?” It is not a complete answer to “Will I like it?”

How to read a Prosecco label in Australia

When looking at an imported bottle, ask:

1. Which designation is named? Is it Prosecco DOC, Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore DOCG or Asolo Prosecco DOCG?
2. Is the place broad or specific? Prosecco DOC covers a large territory; the DOCG names point to more defined areas.
3. What type of wine is it? Look for sparkling, semi-sparkling or still wording where relevant.
4. What sweetness term appears? Brut and Extra Dry do not mean the same thing.
5. Is it imported Italian Prosecco or Australian sparkling wine? An Australian wine made from Glera, or made using tank fermentation, is not automatically Prosecco DOC or DOCG.

For the general wine and style, see What Is Prosecco?. For the wider Italian system, read Italian DOC and DOCG. You can also explore Veneto, Glera and European wine classifications.

FAQs

Is Prosecco a grape?

No. Glera is the principal grape. Prosecco is the protected designation and the name used for the associated wine categories.

Is DOCG always better than DOC?

No. DOCG is more narrowly defined and controlled, but it does not guarantee that every DOCG wine will taste better or suit every drinker.

Are Asolo and Conegliano Valdobbiadene the same DOCG?

No. They are separate Prosecco DOCG designations.

Is Extra Dry Prosecco drier than Brut?

Usually not. Extra Dry is generally sweeter than Brut.

Can Australian sparkling wine be made from Glera?

An Australian sparkling wine may use Glera where permitted under the applicable Australian framework, but that does not automatically make it Prosecco DOC or DOCG. Those names identify protected Italian designations.