"Not everything that glitters is gold." — and not every wine with a fancy label is better than a humble table wine!
Can a Table Wine Be Better Than a DOC/DOCG Wine? Let’s be real: when people see "DOC" or "DOCG" on an Italian wine label, they often think, "Oh, this must be amazing."
And sometimes it is!
But sometimes... it's not.
Here's the thing: DOC and DOCG are legal classifications, not automatic guarantees of quality.
They tell you that the wine followed certain production rules, but they don't tell you if the wine is good, exciting, or even worth drinking.
A Little Story from the Highway
There, between the Pringles and bottled water, you can find a Barolo for €10.
Yes, Barolo! With a big shiny DOCG stamp on it.
Why a Table Wine Can Sometimes Beat a DOCG Wine
Sometimes, the best producers choose not to play the DOC/DOCG game.
Maybe the rules don't allow enough flexibility for their style.
Maybe they don't want to deal with the bureaucracy.
Or maybe their wine doesn't "fit" the technical definitions, but still tastes incredible.
So, they label their wine simply as "Vino da Tavola" (table wine) or "IGT" (a slightly more flexible classification).
And ironically, these wines can be more authentic, daring, delicious, and expensive than many "official" DOC/DOCG wines.
