🏷️ DOC (Portugal)

DOC, Denominação de Origem Controlada, is the Portuguese traditional term for a wine with a protected designation of origin (DO, in EU terms PDO). The ministerial order that recognised the DO "Trás-os-Montes" in 2006 describes DOC as the specific traditional mention that a designation of origin may use under Decree-Law 212/2004.

Under Article 93 of Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013, a designation of origin is the name of a region or specific place. The quality and characteristics of the wine are essentially or exclusively due to its geographical environment, all the grapes come from that area, the wine is produced there, and it is obtained from Vitis vinifera varieties. Article 112 defines a traditional term as a term traditionally used in a Member State to show that a product has a protected designation of origin or geographical indication.

For wines with a DO or IG, the Instituto da Vinha e do Vinho (IVV) refers producers to the relevant regional wine commission (Comissão Vitivinícola Regional, CVR). The IVV map of wine regions lists, for each region, its geographical indication and its DOPs. For example, the Douro region has the DOPs Douro and Porto, and the Algarve has Lagoa, Lagos, Portimão and Tavira.

Portaria 239/2012 sets out traditional mentions that may be used on labels of DO or IG wines, without prejudice to the rules of the certifying bodies. "Colheita tardia" is reserved for wine from overripe grapes with a natural alcoholic strength of at least 15% vol. "Garrafeira" requires, for red wine, at least 30 months of ageing, of which at least 12 months in a glass bottle. "Reserva" requires a vintage year and an alcoholic strength at least 0.5% vol above the legal minimum.