The wine was the first agricultural product to start using the geographical name of origin for, besides its origin, define their qualities and distinctive features. In the course of history, producers, traders and consumers identified the particularities of various agricultural products, attributing to its geographical origin.

The Phoenicians, with domestic trips along the shores of the Mediterranean, were those who contributed to the diffusion of geographical names on the amphorae of wine, as Hispania Wines, Wines of Tarragona, Wines of Gaul, etc . But the Greeks were the precursors of Appellations of Origin, since they first began to establish rules for the production and trade of certain wines (Falermo, Samos), differentiating the vine depending on the characteristics of the agricultural soil and climate .

Increased demand and price of wines with geographical name caused arising fakes. To prevent this misuse, began to use signs of authenticity: Geographical name origin, name of producer and even the manufacturer of the vessel, thus constituting a principle of labeling of containers of wine.

Subsequently a regulation was made to adjust the use of the geographical name to a constant production standards to guarantee product quality, giving birth to the concept of appellation.

In Spain, the legal origin of Appellations of Origin must be sought in the Statute of the wine of the year 1932, and was registered the Valdepeñas. A subsequent regulation was Law 25/1970 Statute of Vine, Wine and Spirits. Today designations of origin are covered by Law 24/2003 of Vine and Wine.