The Integrity of the Italian Kitchen
If wines, cheeses, breads, and recipes are not protected by Italian and European Union law, they are protected and preserved by a fierce local loyalty to custom and tradition. Iconic Italian dishes are not only eaten for sustenance, but they are also a link to a national identity and cultural heritage.

Can a tourist ever say that they have been to Italy and eaten Italian food? It’s an impossibility to describe and do justice to the thousands of regional dishes that comprise Italian cuisine and the customs surrounding their preparation and presentation. Just as difficult a task, is to try and make an account of the virtually limitless number of sauces and vegetable preparations that vary from, town to town, village to village, and from family to family.

Italy has approximately 300 registered wines, and 350 registered types of cheese, and a few thousand other varieties of traditional cheeses, at least 400 different shapes of pasta, about 350 types of bread, at least a dozen protected and registered forms of prosciutto, countless types of other cured meats, salamis, and sausages.

The rich traditions and diversity of Italian cuisine are easy to understand if you consider the geography of Italy and its history. Italy is a country that is 1,300 kilometers long, bordered by the peaks of the Dolomite Alps in the north, and stretches to the island of Sicily in the south. It is a country surrounded by the sea on both sides, with the Apennine mountains in the middle, blessed with fertile plains, and a culture that dates back thousands of years. 

An Explanation of DOC, DOCG, and DOP.
DOC, DOCG, and DOP are national Italian Guarantees of Origin and Quality established by National Panels and enforced by the European Union.

DOC Wines
Controlled Designation of Origin (DOC): or in Italian Denominazione di Origine Controllata. guarantees that the wine in question is of high quality and meets strict production standards, including the variety of grapes, where they are grown, and the wine making techniques.

DOCG Wines
Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita (DOGC)
The wines with the label DOCG on the neck of the bottle are more exclusive than the DOC wines and are subjected to an additional set of strict regulations regarding their history, geographical area, and quality.

DOP
Denominazione d'Origine Protetta | Protected Designation of Origin. The DOP label guarantees that cheese, prosciutto, olive oil, and a myriad of other products are produced, processed, and packaged in a specific area and made by traditional methods. Examples of the best-known products that have received D.O.P certification are Grana Padano cheese, Parmigiano Reggiano cheese, Aceto Balsamico (balsamic vinegar), from Modena, Arancia di Ribera (oranges), Capocollo di Calabria (pork salumi), Culatello di Zibello ham, Fontina cheese, and Mozzarella di Bufala cheese.