When Málaga was reconquered after the Siege of Málaga (1487) by the Catholic Monarchs they encountered the following situation as described by Cecilio García de la Leña in his book Conversaciones Históricas Malagueñas: Some years later, on 12 January 1502 in Seville, the Catholic Monarchs confirmed the creation of the Fraternity of Vintners by Royal Decree.

This Fraternity continues to exist today in the shape of the Regulatory Body (Consejo Regulador) of the Denominación de Origen.

All the wines produced in this DOP now have to be subjected to an official analysis and report from the Qualification Committee (Comité de Calificación), on the basis of which the Regulatory Body will issue the corresponding certificate and numbered guarantee seals.

The Vinos de Lágrima are made from Pedro Ximénez grapes which have been dried for one or two days and then sieved two or three times, but never pressed.

All ageing has to be done in Málaga in American oak barrels, with a capacity not exceeding 800 L. The soil is mostly alluvial with carbonates present on the surface, although near the coastline the composition is more varied, including clay, quartz and mica.