Vino de Mesa (VdM)

This is simple, basic table wine. It is usually blended form various regions of the country to combine the fruit and fresh acidity of the north with the warmth and high strength of the south.
On the label: 'Vino de Mesa, Produce of Spain' and usually a brand name (Don Darias is probably the best known) but no regional name and no vintage date.

Vino Comarcal (VC or CV)

Roughly equivalent to the French vin de pays de région and vin de pays département classifications.
On the label: You will sometimes see 'Vino Comarcal' or more confusingly 'Vino de Mesa de ' followed by the regional name.

Vino de la Tierra (VdlT)

This is a classification for country wines, which may be aspiring to apply for promotion to Quality Wine status.
On the label: 'Vino de la Tierra de' followed by the district name.

Denominación de Origen (DO)

To date there are 55 DO zones but new ones are being created all the time. The criteria for Quality Wines include all aspects of planting, cultivating, harvesting, vinifying and ageing wines under the inspective eye of the consejo (Regulatory Council), which can withold its official back labels (contraetiquetas) if there is any doubt.

Denominación de Origen Calificada (DOCa)

This is a higher category of Quality Wine introduced in 1988 but not actually awarded until April 19, 1991, to Rioja. DOCa allows for lower yields, more rigorous selection of grapes and bottling by the producer, and it aspires to guarantee wines that have performed at the highest levels over a number of years.

Joven

These wines are harvested in one year and sold the next, with little or no time spent in cask. These are light, fruity wines made for immediate drinking.

Crianza

These wines must spend a minimum of six months in cask and two full calendar years undergoing crianza (raising or rearing).

Reserva

These wines must spend a minimum of three calendar years in development, of which at least one must be in oak and one must be in bottle. In practice, however, most of the best growers age their wines for far longer than the legal minimum.

Gran Reserva

These wines are made only in the finest vintages or from the best grapes in good vintages and spend at least five years in the cellar, of which at least two must be in cask and at least three in bottle. Thus, the 2000 harvest will spend 2001 and 2002 in cask, 2003 to 2005 in bottle, and be offered for sale on January 1, 2006. Again, most gran reserva wines tend to be much older than this example suggests.