D.O. (Denominación de Origen) is the Spanish controlled appellation. The Denominación de Origen system is controlled by I.N.D.O. (Instituto Nacional de Denominaciones de Origen). I.N.D.O., under the direction of The Spanish Ministry of Agriculture, administers the D.O. system. Rioja became the first D.O. in 1926 followed by Jerez and Malaga by the end of the 30's. The majority of regions joined the D.O. system after the Civil War. In 1991, a D.O.C. (Denominación de Origen Calificada) was created to award the best Spanish wines. This level is higher than the D.O. one and today it represents the best level in the Spanish wines classification. In the same year than this creation, Rioja became a D.O.C. and was thus the only one Spanish region presenting this level. |
