Priorat, Spain
Hiding in the mountain ranges of Montserrat is the small region of Priorat, the smallest in all of Spain. The rugged terrains, steep vineyard slopes and winding roads provide for one of the most authentic wine landscapes you will ever witness. This place seems like it was pulled out of a storybook, where little villages with their high church towers and brick walls seem untouched by time. It is very special. Each of these villages produce their version of what is “The best Wine of the Priorat” and proudly compete with each other for that tittle. The best wines are made from native Cariñena (Carignan) and Garnacha (Grenache) grapes, often blended with international varieties like Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon.
But very recently, the Priorat was threatened and was very close to being lost. When the phyloxera hit Europe in the end of the XIX century, this region was spared for a bit longer than regions in the South of France, like Bordeaux or the Languedoc. The Priorat then specialized in providing bulk wines to supply these regions, thriving in everyone else’s misery. It wasn’t until 1893 that it finally hit this region, eventually decimating it like it did everywhere else. The Priorat became a region for Almonds and Olives for a long time. It wasn’t until the late 1970’s that 5 iconic winemakers rediscovered the great potential of the region for outstanding wines and brought it back to life. They are: Álvaro Palacios, René Barbier, Daphne Glorian, Carles Pestrana and José Luis Perez. The wines made by these phenomenal winemakers are of supreme quality and are worth hundreds of dollars.
One of the most particular traits that add personality to these wines is definitely the soil type. The vineyards in the Priorat are planted in the slopes of the mountainous landscape, with high percentages of a sedimentary rock called Licorella. In summer, temperatures rise up to 50 degrees on the hot bedrock. The dry conditions and the fact that vines have to rip deep through stone to find any water leads to very concentrated fruit. Small berries with very little water boast tannins and structure on the final wine. The rock also helps the heat dissipate at night time, preserving much needed acidity to balance the hot and bold wines.
Altitude also plays a role in the different styles of wine and the Montserrat gives the Priorat lots of leeway to play with. Higher grounds produce slicker wines, with more finesse, even though there is always a ruggedness associated with the Priorat.
The Priorat is truly a place to indulge in the senses, really dive in to the culture and explore brutting and in your face wines. It is definitely a place you should visit at least once in a lifetime.
