📍 Bierzo

Bierzo is a protected designation of origin (PDO) for wines from El Bierzo in the province of León, Castile and León, Spain. According to its specification, the wines belong to category 1 "wine" of Annex VII, Part II of Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013 and are made as red, rosé, white and clarete wines.

The authorised varieties are, for red, Mencía, Garnacha Tintorera, Merenzao and Estaladiña, and for white, Doña Blanca (synonym Malvasía Castellana), Godello, Malvasía Riojana (synonyms Alarije, Rojal) and Palomino. Red wine must contain at least 85% Mencía, Garnacha Tintorera, Estaladiña and/or Merenzao; rosé needs at least 70% red varieties; white wine is made from Godello, Doña Blanca, Malvasía and Palomino.

Maximum yields are 11,000 kg of grapes per hectare for all varieties except Palomino (12,000 kg), and no more than 81.40 hl of wine per hectare (88.80 hl for Palomino). The minimum potential alcohol of the grapes is 12% vol. for red varieties (Garnacha Tintorera 11%) and 11% vol. for white varieties (Godello 12%).

The production area covers 31 municipalities, all in the province of León: Arganza, Bembibre, Benuza, Berlanga del Bierzo, Borrenes, Cabañas Raras, Cacabelos, Camponaraya, Carracedelo, Carucedo, Castropodame, Congosto, Corullón, Cubillos del Sil, Fabero, Folgoso de la Ribera, Igüeña, Molinaseca, Noceda del Bierzo, Oencia, Ponferrada, Priaranza del Bierzo, Puente de Domingo Flórez, Sancedo, Sobrado, Toral de los Vados-Villadecanes, Toreno, Torre del Bierzo, Trabadelo, Vega de Espinareda and Villafranca del Bierzo.

On the label the vintage is compulsory, even for wines that are not aged. The traditional terms crianza, reserva and gran reserva may be used under the general rules, as may "fermentado en barrica", "criado en barrica" and "envejecido en barrica". The specification also allows "Vino de Villa" followed by a municipality or village, and "Vino de Paraje" followed by a named site, when 100% of the grapes come from that place and a specific yield limit is respected.