DOC Sicilia wines marked with government authenticity stamp

DOC Sicilia wines bottles will henceforth be marked with a government label to guarantee authenticity for producers and consumers.

The journey began back in 2018 when the Consortium for the Protection of DOC Sicilia Wines made the decision to introduce the label issued by the Government Mint. Now, the government labels, which became official from the start of 2022 and will accompany all DOC Sicilia wines has become a reality.

The State label, which is mandatory only for DOCG denominations (in Sicily the Cerasuolo of Vittoria wine) is now the exclusive asset of the most important Italian DOCs: adopting and attaching the alphanumeric code that characterises the band means being able to control the entire cycle of grape processing, from the vineyard to the bottle.

The move thwarts the steadily increasing production of counterfeit DOC Sicilia branded bottles sold in Europe and throughout the world and will henceforth reduce the risk of the improper use of the name of the denomination within foreign markets.

Consortium for the Protection of DOC Sicilia Wines president Antonio Rallo said: “Enhancement, protection and supervision: these are the key words in reference to the activity of the Consortium of DOC Sicilia Wines.”

Rallo explained: “It is precisely with regard to supervision and protection that the introduction of State labels from January 1st, 2022 represents an important innovation that guarantees the traceability of all our bottles life stages.”

He added: “If on the one hand, the continuous growth of DOC Sicilia wines sold in Europe and around the world rewards the work of the island’s wineries, on the other hand, it requires strengthening supervision. The introduction of the labels contrasts in the best possible way any counterfeits and thus it protects both consumers and producers who respect the rules of DOC Sicilia brands.”