Priorat

Spanish wine from Priorat

The Priorat wine region is also known as the "Tuscany of Spain." With its captivating landscape of rocky hills, it's one of only two DOC regions in Spain. Abundant sunshine, slate soils, and young, enthusiastic winemakers are the foundation of the region's high reputation. The grapes are planted on narrow terraces against steep mountainsides, meaning the harvest is carried out entirely by hand. The ripe grapes are hand- selected, and only the very best are bottled.

An ideal Spanish microclimate

About 140 kilometers south of bustling Barcelona lies the rugged landscape of Priorat. Wine has been grown here since the Middle Ages. However, a lice plague in the 19th century devastated the area, resulting in a long hiatus from wine production. Fortunately, around 1980, a group of young winemakers revived the wine region. Thanks to their investments, wine production in the Priorat region was revived. The mountainous landscape ranges from 100 to 700 meters in altitude. The vines are deeply rooted in the volcanic soil, rich in slate. This allows water to easily drain through, resulting in aromatic grapes with complex flavors. The microclimate consists of cold winds and the warm Mistral winds from the east. Summers are long and warm, while winters are quite the opposite, with a lot of cold.

The grape varieties in the mountainous Priorat

In Priorat, we find a wide variety of grape varieties. For example, native grape varieties such as Garnacha and Carinena are used for the red wines. French grape varieties Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Syrah are also frequently found. The white wines consist of Chenin Blanc, Macabeo, Garnacha Blanca, and Pedro Ximenez. The grapes are cultivated with great care, and after a completely hand-harvested wine, a precise aging process follows. These are divided into three different levels: Crianza, Reserva, and Gran Reserva. The former guarantees 6 months of oak aging, followed by an additional 18 months in bottle. If the label says Reserva, it means the wine has been aged for 12 months in oak and then for another 24 months in bottle. Gran Reserva means the wine is aged for 24 months in oak, followed by 36 months in bottle.

The renowned wineries in Priorat

The wines from this wine region have undergone enormous improvement and are now among the best in Spain. Pinord Winery knows better than anyone how to make the most of the steep slopes in this region. One of their exquisite blends is the Clos del Mas Priorat. This red wine immediately catches the eye with its aroma of red and black fruit and its complex and concentrated flavor. Another major player is Alvaro Palacios, a winery with vineyards in several villages in Priorat. This results in a wide range of quality wines. Priorat is a small wine region with the most prestigious quality wines. The region has much to offer, from high-quality, powerful red wines to fruity, refreshing white wines.

Priorat

Priorat

Spanish wine from Priorat

An ideal Spanish microclimate

The grape varieties in the mountainous Priorat

The renowned wineries in Priorat

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