Spanish wine law 3

Denominación de Origen (Denominació d’Origen in Catalunya – DO) – This level is for the mainstream quality-wine regions which are regulated by the Consejo Regulador who is also responsible for marketing the wines of that DO. In 2005, nearly two thirds of the total vineyard area in Spain was within the boundaries of a DO region, with more than half of wines sold under the DO.

Denominación de Origen Calificada (DOCa/DOQ – Denominació d’Origen Qualificada in Catalunya) – This designation, which is similar to Italy’s Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita (DOCG) designation, is for regions with a track record of consistent quality and is meant to be a step above DO level. Rioja was the first region afforded this designation in 1991 and was followed by Priorat in 2003. In 2008 Ribera del Duero was approved to receive DOCa classification, but acquiring the status was never pursued and Ribera del Duero remains a DO today.

Vino de Pago – Additionally there is the Denominación de Pago (DO de Pago) designation for individual single-estates with an international reputation. This often appears as VP on the label and as of 2013, there were 15 estates with this status.