Priorat

Priorat is a Spanish wine from the Catalonia region that has enjoyed protected designation of origin (PDO) status since 1954. The quality of the terroir was recognized in a 1932 document. However, the PDO regulations were not published until 1954 due to the turmoil caused by the Spanish Civil War. The name ofthe Priorat appellation comes from the Carthusian priory that historically founded the vineyard: priorat in Catalan, and priorato in Spanish.

The soils of the Priorat terroir are shallow, with the bedrock lying almost on the surface. The soil has a low organic matter content and is mainly formed by the disintegration of slate, known locally as "llikorella," which are laminar, brittle stones between which the roots of the vines sink in search of moisture and nutrients. The tortuous geography of the Priorat region means that vines have to be grown on slopes, some of which are inaccessible to machinery, requiring the most traditional forms of cultivation. The relative isolation from the influence of the sea and the protection provided by the Montsant mountains give the DOQ Priorat unique climatic conditions, marked mainly by sudden changes in temperature between day and night. These conditions shape the character of Priorat wines.

The most widely grown grape varieties in Priorat are black grapes, such as Carinyena (Carignan) and Garnatxa (Grenache), which are the most important indigenous grape varieties. Wine lovers can appreciate the richness of Priorat wine through the vintages offered by Bodega Portal del Priorat.