Spanish Wine Law<br /><div><br />EU wine law recognizes two main categories of wine:<br /><ul><li>Table wine<br /></li><li>Quality wine<br /></li></ul><div><br />Spain has two levels of table wine:<br /><ul><li>Vino de mesa:&nbsp; no region, grapes, or vintage on label<br /></li><li>Vino de la Tierra (VdlT):&nbsp; equivalent of Vin de Pays in France. &nbsp;An officially recognized area but below DO level. &nbsp;<br /></li></ul><div><br />Spain has four levels of quality wine:<br /><ul><li>Vinos de Calidad con Indicaci&oacute;n Geogr&aacute;fica (VCIG).&nbsp; A new category that is a stepping stone to DO.&nbsp; Areas must wwait five years to ask for DO.<br /></li><li>Denominaci&oacute;n de Origen (DO). 64 around today.&nbsp; Regulated by a consejo regulalador, which falls under the Ministery of Agriculture, and includes representatives of growers, bodegas and negociants.&nbsp; Detailed rules on every aspect of viticulture and wine-making must be followed.<br /></li><li>Denominci&oacute;n de Origen Calificada (DOCa). &nbsp;DO must wait ten years to attain. &nbsp;Only Rioja and Priorat so far.&nbsp; Stricter rules.<br /></li><li>Vino de Pago:&nbsp; Single estates of exceptional quality.&nbsp; Must comply at least with DOCa rules.&nbsp; <br /></li></ul><div><br />Definitions for aging wines in Spain<br /><div><br /><table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="1"><tr><td width="192">Category<br /></td><td width="192">Red Wine <br /></td><td width="192">White/Ros&eacute; wine<br /></td></tr><tr><td width="192">Crianza<br /></td><td width="192">24 months in bodega<br />At least 6 in wood<br />(max 330 liters)<br /></td><td width="192">12 months in bodega<br />At least 6 in wood<br /></td></tr><tr><td width="192">Reserva<br /></td><td width="192">36 months in bodega<br />At least 12 in wood<br />Rest in bottle<br /></td><td width="192">24 months in bodega<br />At least 6 in wood<br />Rest in bottle<br /></td></tr><tr><td width="192">Gran Reserva<br /></td><td width="192">60 months in bodega<br />At least 18 in wood (down from 24)<br />Rest in bottle<br /></td><td width="192">48 months in bodega<br />At least 6 in wood<br />Rest in bottle<br /></td></tr></table><div><br />New categories in Spanish wines for VdlT and all quality wines<br /><div><br /><table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="1"><tr><td width="288">Category<br /></td><td width="288">Aging requirements<br /></td></tr><tr><td width="288">Noble<br /></td><td width="288">12 months in wood (up to 600 liters) or bottle<br /></td></tr><tr><td width="288">A&ntilde;ejo<br /></td><td width="288">24 months in wood or bottle<br /></td></tr><tr><td width="288">Viejo<br /></td><td width="288">36 months, with marked oxidative effect<br /></td></tr></table><div><br /><div><br /></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>