Spain Classifications

Vino De La Mesa
Table wine, doesn't need vintage, or classification. No limits on grapes or styles


Vino de Calidad Producido en Región Determinada


Vinos de la Tierra
large classified area, Catalunya, Levant, North-Central Spain are examples.

regions must produce VDLT for 5 years before they can apply for DO status

Denominacion de Origin
DO means more rigorous testing on quality. more rules.
DO often have stamps or logos used to mark their wines.
newest DO is zamora in castilla y leon

Denominacion de Origin Calificada 
Top level , shortened to DOCa and in the case of Priorat, DOQ (qualificada)


There are two top level

Rioja, Spains first DO in 1925 and first DOCa in 1991
Priorat, DO 1989 and DOQ 2001

(jerez was the second DO in Spain, malaga the third)


Denominacion de Pago
Pago's are single vineyard sites with DO status, due more to their individual production than their general area. There are few (9?) and the first and important ones are in La Mancha