In Spain, the denominación de origen is part of a regulatory geographical indication system used primarily for foodstuffs such as cheeses, condiments, honey, and meats, among others. In wines, it parallels the hierarchical systems of France (1935) and Italy (1963), although Rioja (1925) and Jerez (1933) preceded the full system. In foods, it performs a similar role, regulation of quality and geographical origin of products from Spain. There are five other designated categories solely for wine and a further three specifically covering food and condiments, all recognised by the European Union (EU). In Catalonia, two further categories – labelled A and Q – cover traditional Catalan artisan food products, but were not recognised by the EU as of 2007. In recent decades, the concept of the denominación de origen has been adopted by other countries, primarily in Latin America. In 2016, the use of the Denominación de Origen (DO) for wines was registered as a European Union Protected Designations of Origin/Denominación de Origen Protegida (PDO/DOP), but the traditional Portuguese term of DO can still be used legally on labels.
Spanish wine includes red, white, and sparkling wines produced throughout the country. Located on the Iberian Peninsula, Spain has over 1.2 million hectares planted in wine grapes, making it the most widely planted wine-producing nation, but the second largest producer of wine in the world, behind Italy and ahead of France and the United States. This is due, in part, to the very low yields and wide spacing of the old vines planted on the dry soils found in some of the Spanish wine regions. The country is ninth in worldwide consumption with Spaniards drinking, on average, 21.6 litres per person a year. The country has an abundance of native grape varieties, with over 400 varieties planted throughout Spain, though 88 percent of the country's wine production is from only 20 grapes — including the reds Tempranillo, Bobal, Garnacha, and Monastrell; the whites Albariño, Airén, Verdejo, Palomino, and Macabeo; and the three Cava grapes Parellada, Xarel·lo, and Macabeo.
Pago de Arínzano is a wine estate that uses the Vino de Pago wine appellation, a classification for Spanish wine applied to individual vineyards or wine estates, unlike the Denominación de Origen Protegida (DOP) or Denominación de Origen Calificada (DOCa) which is applied to an entire wine region. This Vino de Pago is located in the municipality of Aberin, in the Foral Community of Navarra, Spain, and is geographically within the borders of the Navarra DOP. The 300 hectares estate was purchased by the Chivite family in 1988 and was operated by Bodegas Chivite until it was sold in 2015 to a multinational drinks firm, SPI Group.
Vino de la tierra is a quality of Spanish wine that designates the rung below the mainstream quality wine classification of denominación de origen protegida (DOP). It is the equivalent of the French vin de pays. It represents a higher quality than table wine, and covers still wine, sparkling wine, and fortified wine. Since 2016 the classification is called indicación geográfica protegida (IGP), but wines can still use the traditional name of vino de la tierra. The labels of vino de la tierra wines are allowed to state the year of vintage and the grape varieties used in production.
Pago de Otazu is a branch of Bodega Otazu, a Spanish winery in Navarre, Spain. The Pago de Otazu branch uses the Vino de Pago wine appellation, a classification for Spanish wine applied to individual vineyards or wine estates, unlike the Denominación de Origen Protegida (DOP) or Denominación de Origen Calificada (DOCa) which is applied to an entire wine region. This Vino de Pago is located in the municipality of Echauri, a village only 8 km from Pamplona, the capital of the Foral Community of Navarra, Spain, and it is geographically within the borders of the Navarra DOP. The winery, Bodega Otazu, also sells wines under the Navarra DOP appellation.
Pago Irache is a branch of Bodegas Irache, a Spanish winery in Navarre, Spain. The Pago Irache branch uses the Vino de Pago wine appellation, a classification for Spanish wine applied to individual vineyards or wine estates, unlike the Denominación de Origen Protegida (DOP) or Denominación de Origen Calificada (DOCa) which is applied to an entire wine region. This Vino de Pago is located in the municipality of Aberin, in the Foral Community of Navarra, Spain, and is geographically within the borders of the Navarra DOP. This Vino de Pago is located in the municipality of Ayegui, near the town of Estella in the Foral Community of Navarra, Spain, and is geographically within the borders of the Navarra DOP. The winery, Bodegas Irache, also sells wines under the Navarra DOP appellation.
Vino de Pago is a classification for Spanish wine applied to individual vineyards or wine estates, unlike the Denominación de Origen Protegida (DOP) or Denominación de Origen Calificada (DOCa) which is applied to an entire wine region. The Vino de Pago classification was introduced in 2003 by a decision in the Cortes Generales, the Spanish parliament, to help further improve the quality of Spanish wine. As of 2021, there were 20 Vinos de Pago.
Pago Aylés is a branch of Finca Aylés, a Spanish winery in Aragón, Spain. The Pago Aylés branch uses the Vino de Pago wine appellation, a classification for Spanish wine applied to individual vineyards or wine estates, unlike the Denominación de Origen Protegida (DOP) or Denominación de Origen Calificada (DOCa) which is applied to an entire wine region. The Pago Aylés winery was formed as a Vino de Pago in 2003, and geographically it lies within the extent of the Cariñena DOP. Along with the Vino de Pago appellation, the winery sells wines under the Cariñena DOP appellation as Bodega Aylés Demba wines.
Pago Casa del Blanco is a Spanish winery in Castilla–La Mancha, Spain. The winery uses the Vino de Pago wine appellation, a classification for Spanish wine applied to individual vineyards or wine estates, unlike the Denominación de Origen Protegida (DOP) or Denominación de Origen Calificada (DOCa) which is applied to an entire wine region. The Pago Casa del Blanco winery was formed as a Vino de Pago in 2003, and geographically it lies within the extent of the La Mancha DOP. The winery in fact sells wine under the Vino de Pago appellation as Pago Casa del Blanco, and under the I.G.P. "Vino de la Tierra de Castilla" appellation.
Pago Vicario is a Spanish winery in Castilla–La Mancha, Spain. The winery uses the Vino de Pago wine appellation, a classification for Spanish wine applied to individual vineyards or wine estates, unlike the Denominación de Origen Protegida (DOP) or Denominación de Origen Calificada (DOCa) which is applied to an entire wine region. The Pago Vicario winery was formed as a Vino de Pago in 2019, and geographically it lies within the extent of the La Mancha DOP.
Pago de La Jaraba is a Spanish winery in Castilla–La Mancha, Spain. The winery uses the Vino de Pago wine appellation, a classification for Spanish wine applied to individual vineyards or wine estates, unlike the Denominación de Origen Protegida (DOP) or Denominación de Origen Calificada (DOCa) which is applied to an entire wine region. The Pago de La Jaraba winery was formed as a Vino de Pago in 2019, and geographically it lies within the extent of the La Mancha DOP. The winery also produces artisan Manchego cheese under the D.O.P. queso manchego appellation. Queso baja calidad
Pago Calzadilla is a Spanish winery in Castilla–La Mancha, Spain. The winery uses the Vino de Pago wine appellation, a classification for Spanish wine applied to individual vineyards or wine estates, unlike the Denominación de Origen Protegida (DOP) or Denominación de Origen Calificada (DOCa) which is applied to an entire wine region. The Pago Calzadilla winery was formed as a Vino de Pago in 2011, and geographically it lies within the extent of the Uclés DOP. At just 22 hectares, Pago Calzadilla is the smallest wine DOP in Spain.
Pago de Vallegarcía is a Spanish winery in Castilla–La Mancha, Spain. The winery uses the Vino de Pago wine appellation, a classification for Spanish wine applied to individual vineyards or wine estates, unlike the Denominación de Origen Protegida (DOP) or Denominación de Origen Calificada (DOCa) which is applied to an entire wine region. The Pago de Vallegarcía winery was formed as a Vino de Pago in 2019, and geographically it lies within the extent of the La Mancha DOP.
Pago Vera de Estenas is a branch of Vera de Estenas Viñedos y Bodegas, a Spanish winery in Valencia, Spain. The Pago Vera de Estenas branch uses the Vino de Pago wine appellation, a classification for Spanish wine applied to individual vineyards or wine estates, unlike the Denominación de Origen Protegida (DOP) or Denominación de Origen Calificada (DOCa) which is applied to an entire wine region. The Pago de Los Balagueses was formed as a Vino de Pago in 2011, and geographically it lies within the extent of the Utiel-Requena DOP. The first wine produced under the Vino de Pago appellation was in 2013, with the release of Martínez Bermell-Merlot 2013, A Merlot varietal wine.
Vino de Calidad con indicación geográfica (VC), is classification for Spanish wine. The category was formed in 2003 along with Vino de Pago. The VC category is used for wines that do not fully meet the stringent standards of the DO category, but are above the standards of the Indicación Geográfica Protegida (IGP) category. As of 2019, there were 7 VCs.
Pago Los Cerrillos is a branch of Montalvo Wilmot Wineries, a Spanish winery in Castilla–La Mancha, Spain. The Pago Los Cerrillos branch uses the Vino de Pago wine appellation, a classification for Spanish wine applied to individual vineyards or wine estates, unlike the Denominación de Origen Protegida (DOP) or Denominación de Origen Calificada (DOCa) which is applied to an entire wine region. The Pago Los Cerrillos was formed as a Vino de Pago in 2019, and geographically it lies within the extent of the La Mancha DOP appellation. The Montalvo Wilmot Wineries also produce Spanish wines under the Vino de la Tierra de Castilla (IGP) appellation.
Lebrija is a Spanish Denominación de Origen Protegida (DOP), traditionally called a Vino de calidad con Indicación Geográfica. This is one step below the mainstream Denominación de Origen quality wines and one step above the less stringent Vino de la Tierra wines on the quality ladder. It is located in the province of Seville, and as of 2019 includes one winery, Bodegas González Palacios.
Sierra de Salamanca is a Spanish Denominación de Origen Protegida (DOP), traditionally called a Vino de calidad con Indicación Geográfica. This is one step below the mainstream Denominación de Origen quality wines and one step above the less stringent Vino de la Tierra wines on the quality ladder. It is located in the province of Salamanca, and known for its red wines using the native Rufete grape.
Islas Canarias is a Spanish Denominación de Origen Protegida (DOP), traditionally called a Vino de calidad con Indicación Geográfica. This is one step below the mainstream Denominación de Origen quality wines and one step above the less stringent Vino de la Tierra wines on the quality ladder. It is encompasses all the Canary Islands. The Canary Islands also has ten individual DO's.
