 Wine
Guide & D.O. Regions of Spain |
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Spain is organized in districts or demarcations, these areas are classified
and recognized by the "Denominación de Origen"
label. The D.O. system is in fact a quality control system which guaranties
the origin and class of grapes, as well as the methods used to produce
the wines. Check the Vintage section for the
Vintage Tables.
Click for Detailed DO Map
(3.5MB)
The following list shows the current D.O.'s and includes:
D.O. registered name - geographical area, typical
wines.
-
Abona - Canary Islands,
young
reds, whites and rosés
-
Alella - NE Mediterranean,
fruity
whites, varietals
-
Alicante - Central Mediterranean,
solid
reds
-
Almansa - South central,
heavy
reds
-
Ampurdan-Costa Brava - NE
Mediterranean, rosés, "cavas" & reds
-
Bierzo - Northwest, fragrant
reds
-
Binissalem - Island of Mallorca,
"Manto
Negro" reds
-
Bullas - Southeast, rosés
-
Calatayud - North Central,
tasty
reds, fine rosés
-
Campo de Borja - North central
plateau, reds & rosés
-
Cariñena - North Central,
full-bodied
reds
-
Chacolí de Guetaria - North
(Bay of Biscay), young "txacoli" whites
-
Chacolí de Vizcaya - North
(Bay of Biscay), young "txacoli" whites
-
Cigales - NE central,
rosés
-
Conca de Barbera - East (near
Barcelona), whites & "cavas"
-
Condado de Huelva - SW Atlantic,
light
young whites
-
Costers del Segre - Northeast,
varietal
reds & whites
-
El Hierro - Canary Islands,
young
reds & whites
-
Jerez-Xéres-Sherry, Manzanilla
Sanlucar de Barrameda - SW Altantic, sherries and "manzanilla"
-
Jumilla - Southeast central,
robust
reds
-
La Mancha - South central,
whites,
table reds & rosés
-
La Palma - Canary Islands,
whites
& table reds
-
Lanzarote - Canary Islands,
"malvasía"
whites
-
Málaga - South Mediterranean,
dessert
"moscatels"
-
Manchuela - South central,
whites
& table reds
-
Mondéjar - Central
plateau, young reds & whites
-
Méntrida - Central
plateau, strong reds
-
Monterrei - Northwest,
young whites & reds
-
Montilla-Moriles - South,
sherry-like
"amontillados"
-
Navarra - North Pyrenees,
tasty
reds & rosés
-
Penedés - NE Mediterranean,
whites
& "cavas", smooth reds
-
Pla de Bages - Mediterranean,
young
reds & whites
-
Pla i Llevant - Mediterranean,
young
reds & whites
-
Priorato - Mediterranean,
robust
dense reds
-
Rias Baixas - NW Atlantic,
young
fruity whites
-
Ribeira Sacra - Northwest,
young
whites & reds
-
Ribeiro - Northwest, whites
-
Ribera del Duero - NW central,
quality
reds
-
Ribera del Guadiana - West,table
reds
-
Rioja - North central,
quality
reds
-
Rueda - NW central, quality
whites
-
Somontano - Central Pyrenees,
reds
with body
-
Tacoronte-Acentejo - Canary
Islands,
table reds & whites
-
Tarragona - Mediterranean,
light
whites & robust reds
-
Terra Alta - Mediterranean,
solid
whites
-
Toro - NW central, strong
reds
-
Utiel-Requena - East (near
Valencia), varietals & table reds
-
Valdeorras - Northwest,
fruity
whites
-
Valdepeñas - Central
plateau, whites & reds
-
Valencia - Mediterranean,
aromatic
whites, solid reds
-
Valle de Güímar -
Canary
Islands, young whites
-
Valle de la Orotava - Canary
Islands, young reds, whites & rosés
-
Vinos de Madrid - Central,
sturdy
reds & varietals
-
Ycoden-Daute-Isora - Canary
Islands, table reds & whites
-
Yecla - Southeast, strong
reds
Special Categories
-
Cava - Various areas (North),
"champagne
method" sparkling wines
Note: The "typical wines" mentioned above are just that
- typical. They do not necesarily represent all the wines of the D.O. area,
this of course depends very much on the winery, harvest, grape variety,
and many other factors.
The Demominación de Origen system is
controlled by INDO - Instituto Nacional de Denominaciones de Origen. INDO,
under the direction of The Spanish Ministry of Agriculture, administers
the D.O. system for a broad range of agricultural products ranging from
wine and olive oil, to cured hams and cheeses.
Last update: August 2010