It could just be me, but I have a difficult time keeping Italian wine regions and their varietals straight. I often need a map of Italy in front of me to figure out what I am drinking and where it comes from. Part of the reason for my confusion is the labyrinth of vineyard designations and the complex regulatory governance that defines and enforces the various levels of quality from each region. Italian vineyards and wines are regulated by the Italian Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Forestry which is responsible for enforcing the Denominazione di Origine Controllata laws that were originally established in 1963. The Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita was later created in 1980, adopting more restrictive regulations for 30-some odd appellations.

The Indicazione Geografica Tipica was founded in 1992 and consists of roughly 200 appellations. Even though the restrictions are more relaxed than the aforementioned designations, these wine regions must also meet specific rules for production standard and varietal purity.