Spain has over 65 Denominacion de Origen (DO), which are designated geographic areas designated for the production of wine.  There are strict rules set out by the Consejo Regulador, the controlling body, as the viticultural and wine-making practices. 

Below you will find information on the major wine regions of Spain, including Dos and other categories of wine.
We start out with Rioja which is considered the classic wine region of Spain along with the Sherry region, and was the first DO in 1925. The other DOs are then group by geographic region.

DOCa Rioja

• Rioja, Basque Country, Navarra
• Large area known for red and some whites
  • Three sub zones
  • Rioja Alta and Alavesa
  • Rioja Baja
• Most densely planted area in Spain
• Classic wine region that led the way
• Brought French influence in 19th century
• Most famous Spanish wine region internationally
• DO created in 1925 (1st)
  • DOCa since 1991
• More than 65,000 hectares
• More than 600 wineries
• Main grape: Tempranillo
  • Also: Garnacha, Mazuelo, Graciano
  • Experimental grape used fairly frequently: Cabernet Sauvignon
• Somewhat of an identity crisis
  • Multiple wine styles
• Mild climatological conditions
  • Atlantic influence

Castilla Leon

• Very important wine region with five important DOs
  • DO Ribera del Duero
  • DO Rueda
  • DO Toro
  • DO Bierzo
  • DO Cigales
• Also very important production of Vino de la Tierra de Castilla Leon
• DO Ribera del Duero
  • DO since 1982: meteoric rise since then
  • Considered to produce some of the finest red wines in Spain
  • Trendy and fast-growing areas
  • Prices can be quite high 
  • More than 8,000 ha of vineyards and over 178 wineries.
  • Grape variety:  Tinto Fino, a variant of Tempranillo
  • Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot used in small quantities 
  • Climate: Continental with some Med influence
• DO Rueda
  • Small wine region (6000ha) with 36 wineries
  • White wines from Verdejo and Sauvignon Blanc
  • Created in 1980 for whites
  • Since 2001 open to reds
  • The wines are attractive modern, cold-fermented whites
  • Excellent value
  • The climate is wind-swept continenta
• DO Toro
  • Gained fame over last ten years
  • Powerful red wines
  • Some good value wines, but many more expensive now
  • Small DO created in 1987: 34 wineries
  • Only varietal: Tinta de Toro (Tempranillo)
  • Extreme continental climate
• DO Bierzo
  • “Gateway to Galicia”: Currently high profile
  • Small red and white producing area
  • DO created in 1988: 39 wineries
  • Main grapes: Mencía and Godello
  • Mild climate

Cataluña

• Huge region with 12 DOs with many climatic and geographic variations
• 1999: a region DO called DO Cataluña
• Strongest on whites but also great reds
• Widespread use of indigenous varieties
• Widespread use of French varieties
• 90% of Cava produced here
• Key in spread of modern equipment and techniques throughout Spain
• All of the DOs are improving dramatically
• DO Penedés
  • Important DO since 1960:  150 winerie
  • Important innovator in win
  • Center of Cava productio
  • Also elegant whites and reds
• DOCa Priorat
  • Small, exclusive DO since 1954: 26 wineries
  • Very expensive wines
  • Famous for huge, mineral red wines
  • Unique soils: licorella
  • Use of Garnacha and Cariñena with French varieties
• DO Montsant
  • Similar wines to Priorat…less expensive
• DO Terra Alta
  • Still rustic at times…similar potential to Priorat
• DO Alella
  • Tiny coastal DO: mostly known for whites
• DO Apurdán-Costa Brava
  • Small coastal DO known traditionally for rosados
• DO Concá de Barbera
  • Medium size interior DO used as source for cava wines
• DO Costers de Segre
  • Small interior DO used a source for cava wines
• DO Plá de Bagés
  • Tiny interior DO known for crisp whites
• DO Tarragona
  • Large coastal/interior DO makes a wide variety of wines

Castilla La Mancha

• Huge region: one of the biggest in the world
• 9 DOs:  more being created
• Very hot region producing Mediterranean style red wines
• Very good value and improving quality
• Lots of jug wine still!
• Very good Vinos de la Tierra de Castilla
• Also several Vinos de Pago
• DO La Mancha
  • Enormous DO making good quality wine from Tempranillo
• DO Valdepeñas
  • Very large DO making traditional, inexpensive wines from Tempranillo
• Other DOs
  • DO Almansa, DO Manchuela, DO Méntrida, DO Mondéjar, DO Riber del Júcar
• DO Vinos de Madrid
  • Not technically La Mancha, but similar situation and similar wines
  • Improving…but best wines are expensive due to small production

Aragon

• Large region with 4 DOs
• One is very high quality, the other three improving rapidly
• Lots of jug wine made here
• Excellent climate for high quality wine
• DO Somontano
  • Small, but growing DO with excellent quality
  • Very good prices
  • Elegant, varied wines from indigenous and French varieties
• DO Calatayud
  • Medium DO still rustic but interesting old-vine Garnacha and cavas
• DO Cariñena
  • Large DO making lots of jug wine and some interesting old-vine Garnacha
• DO Campo de Borja
  • Medium DO with lots of Garnacha

Galicia

• Mild, wet region known for interesting whites with 5 DOs
• DO Rias Baixas
  • Top quality, small DO making whites from Albariño
  • Humidity, rain, main challenges
  • No bulk wine allowed
  • Wines can be pricy for Spanish whites
• DO Valdeorras
  • High quality small DO on border with Leon
  • Eastern, sheltered location gives more full-bodied whites and reds from Godello and Mencía
• DO Monterrei
  • Hot, sheltered, tiny DO makes mostly reds
• DO Ribeiro
  • Small, coastal DO makes light, spritzy, blended whites
• DO Ribera Sacra
  • Small DO making traditional Galician whites

Navarra and Basque Country

• One large DO and 3 tiny ones
• DO Navarra
  • Large DO making some very good wines: 109 wineries
  • Use of a lot of indigenous and foreign grapes
  • Reputation built on rosés
  • Now many more interesting reds and whites
  • Cross between continental and Atlantic climate
• DO Txacoli
  • Three separate DOs: Alava, Getaria, Vizcaya
  • Making vinho verde style wines from local varieties
  • Hondarribi Zuri (white) and Hondarribi Beltza (red)
  • Most are easy-drinking quaffers, but a few more serious wines being made now

Valencia and Murcia

• Large jug wine areas now making very interesting wines
• Murcia:  3 DOs
• DO Jumilla
  • Enormous DO with growing reputation for quality wines
  • Red, quality wines based on Monastrell
  • Interesting dessert wines
• DO Bullas
  • Small DO with higher altitude makes some interesting reds from Monastrell
• DO Yecla
  • Medium DO similar to Jumilla
• Valencia: 3 DOs
• DO Valencia
  • Large DO making mostly insipid whites, but has potential for reds from Monastrell
• DO Utiel Requena
  • Huge DO making lots of red jug wine
  • Some very good wines being made from Bobal
• DO Alicante
  • Large DO traditionally know for sweet wines
  • Now making good reds from Monastrell

Extremadura

• One large DO (Ribera del Guadiana) making mostly jug wines
  • Good potential but little results
  • Best results in whites, though reds should be better
  • Many grapes varieties:  Tempranillo and Garnacha dominate

Balearics

• Tiny production
• Most wine made for local tourist consumption
• Largely cheap and cheerful wines
• Some quality red wine made but quite pricy
• Local varieties such as Callet, Fogoneu, Manto Negro

Canaries

• Medium production made for tourist industry
• Local varieties such as Listran and Malvasia
• Whites much better than reds

Andalucia

• Mostly fortified wines, but some interesting table wines being made in Malaga and around Granada
• DO Jerez
  • Large DO of 10,000 hectares
  • Makes of fortified white wines of many types
  • Grapes:
    • Palomino for dry sherries
    • Moscatel and PX for sweet wines
  • Non-vintage wines made in criadera and solera systems
    • Like cava and champagne
    • To preserve house style
  • Finos and Manzanillas
    • Made in reductive style under protective “flor”
    • Dry and fresh
  • Amontillado
    • Aged Fino
    • Has oxidative notes plus freshness of Fino
  • Oloroso:
    • Solera without flor
    • Oxidized style:  nutty, brown
    • All start out dry:  some have PX added for sweetness
  • Palo Cortado
    • Rarest style
    • Cross between Oloroso and Amontillado
    • Has flor for short time
  • Sweet sherries
    • Moscatel and Pedro Ximenez dried to raisins
    • Used as varietal wines and blenders
• DO Montilla Moriles
  • Very similar wines to sherry but using PX as base wine
  • Whole range from Fino to sweet stickies
• DO Malaga
  • Fortified dessert wines from Moscatel and PX
  • Now some interesting still wines made
• DO Huelva
  • Similar wines to Jerez
  • Once serve as source for grapes for Jerez

DO Cava

• A style DO, not geographic
• Sparkling wine made in Champenoise style
• Mostly white, some rosé
• Top sales in world (quantity) before champagne
• Produced in 160 municipalities
• Cataluña:  90% of cava made here
• Other provinces:  Rioja, Valencia, Extremadura, Aragon
• Three traditional grapes:  Macabeo, Parellada, Xarel.lo
• Other grapes:  Chardonnay, Monastrell, Pinot Noir
• Tendency:  use of more French varieties