Priorat covers a small area, less than 20,000 hectares, of which just 1,600 are planted with vines. The terrain is very abrupt, even “cataclysmic” in the words of the Catalan writer Josep Pla. This makes wine-growing hard, demanding and very costly.
Its vines produce little compared to other wine-growing areas. On the other hand, they yield exceptional grapes which, in the hands of the region’s dedicated winemakers, are transformed into wines renowned the world over for their strong character and extraordinary complexity.
In the cellars of a handful of ancient houses in the DOQ Priorat, growers and winemakers work together to produce just a few thousand bottles. The wine comes from vines planted when it was still a sin for women to show their elbows. The bottles will travel to shops in New York, Zürich or Cape Town…
Nearby, new wineries and newly-planted vineyards are proof of their commitment to this region. The Priorat is not an easy land, it gives nothing for free, but nevertheless it has managed to seduce a good number of wine enthusiasts who have fallen in love with the grapes yielded by its slate soils. The DOQ Priorat is full of wineries, all relatively small and, despite the difficulties involved, many of them are willing to welcome visitors and share what they love most – their passion for their wine and the land from which it comes.
Further info: www.doqpriorat.org