@Tom I love Offida! I think that the new system will have its pluses and minuses. On one level, it will simplify the many fantasy names out there with varietal labeling. At the same time, varietal-labeled wine could eclipse many of the great “traditional” wines. It’s important that the custodians of the new appellation system use it wisely (i.e., the Italian National Wine Committee).

@Adrian and Alfonso thanks for reading… I hope these posts are helpful and useful…

I’ll post on this soon, but for now, good on you to bring this subject up, as it is a critical one for understanding Italian wines. On the one hand, the DOC system is vital, if only to offer consumers some protection. For example, if they purchase a Chianti Classico, they need to know the grapes are from that area and that there is a minimum of 80% Sangiovese in the blend. If not, then a producer can label the wine as IGT Toscana. A simple and elegant solution.

Yet clearly there are far too many DOCs. How may people could tell you from what region the Offida DOC originates? (it’s from Marche.) More importantly, does it really matter to anyone but the local producers? Do consumers care if a beautiful bottle of Pecorino from Marche is from the Offida DOC or whether it’s an IGT Marche? Does the wine taste better one way or the other? The DOC system has become terribly confusing and bottom line, that doesn’t help Italian producers in their efforts to sell wine in this country or any other country, for that matter.

If you’re ok with it i could source from your list for the DOCG pages.

The Italian wikipedia pages have some nice information about many grape varieties and DOC appelations.

I find that easy to find and reliable info about Italian wines are very important.

When i go out to sell wine i expect the people that i talk into, for example, Valtellina Superiore or Valtellina Sforzato, would go google for it and found enough info to help them introduce the wines to their customers. Otherwise we’ll have to drink Barolo, Barbaresco and Brunello forever; not that i would mind but my bank account would go red quickly, and the sense of exploration and discovery that is so fun to follow in the wine world, would suffer.