Denominacion de Origen Calificada (DOCa)
Definition - What does Denominacion de Origen Calificada (DOCa) mean?
Denominación de Origen Calificada (DOC) is the regulating body in Spain which designates certain quality standards to produce food and wine. DOC falls under a Protected Designation of Origin (PDO), which regulates how food and wine is processed, produced and prepared within specific geographical regions and their sub-regions. The DOC label is also the second-highest ranking designation for quality within Spain.
WineFrog explains Denominacion de Origen Calificada (DOCa)
The Denominación de Origen Calificada (DOC) is a system within Spain that regulates the quality of wine and certain foods according to their specific region. For wine, these regulations and restrictions may vary depending on certain traditions, geography and specific vineyards.
The DOC also includes a hierarchy of how wine (and food) is labeled based on how each producer manufacturers their products. The Denominación de Origen Calificada label is the second-highest ranking designation following Denominación de Origen Calificada e Garantita (DOCG). This signifies that the producer has followed the rules based on strict yields of grapes grown and harvested, how the fruit is harvested, the manner in which the wine is made, required alcohol levels and how it is aged and bottled.
