290- Identity: the
building blocks of
2. Literature
and philosophy
3. Art and
architecture
4. Performing
arts
5. Cinema
and fashion
6. Media and
communications
7. Food and drink 8. Living culture:
the details of
Spanish wine classifications: what do they mean?
Vino de Mesa(VdM) Basic table wine. It won’t have a vintage and the label
won’t say where it’s from.The contents may well be a blend of wines from
different regions.
Vino de la Tierra(VdlT) ‘Wine of the land’, so rather like the Frenchvin de
pays. A minimum of 60 per cent of the wine should come from a specified
region that has some discernible character but hasn’t yet gained DO status.
Around 25 VdlT areas exist at present.
Denominación de Origen(DO)This wine, like the French AOC equivalent,
will have come from the region specified on the label. Each of the 60 or so
DO regions has strict rules limiting yields and dictating permitted grape
varieties.
Denominación de Origen Calificada(DOCa) DO with bells on. Only two
exist so far – Rioja and Priorato – and, while reputation and quality are
clearly vital, the criteria for making them and (potentially) other wines DOCa
are a bit cloudy.
Spanish reds are also classified according to age. Here are the main categories you’re likely to find on a label:
Joven
A fledgling red probably too young to have seen the inside of a cask. Made for immediate drinking.
Crianza
Aged for a minimum of two years, a portion of which will have been in an oak cask
(length of time depends on region).
Reserva
Add on an extra year forReservawines: three years in maturation, of which at least one must be
in an oak barrel and one in a bottle.
Gran reserva
The most mature Spanish reds endure a minimum of five years in development,
at least two of which are spent in a cask.
Getting better with age