This region (also known as Priorato) is one of the new stars of Spanish wine, and has recently gone through huge transition. The best wines from this region are some of Spain's most sophisticated and sought-after reds. They are developing a cult following, and prices have soared sky-high.
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Location
Priorat is located in central southern Tarragona, Catalonia. The
vineyards are scattered among eleven valley towns, and are terraced
into the sides of the mountains or planted on the steep slopes.
Grapes
- Red: Garnacha Tinta, Cariñena
- White: Garnacha Blanca,
Viura (Macabeo)
Look Out For
- Generoso: A type of fortified wine,
uniquely Spanish, based on selected grape varieties and traditional
methods of biological
processing. Its alcohol content is no lower than 15% vol.
- Rancio:
Aged wine obtained through oxidation that is sometimes speeded
up by exposing the wine to the sun in large glass cylinders.
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The key grapes here are Garnacha (Grenache) and Cariñena (Carignan), which produce spicy, warm-hearted reds. They may be young or aged up to Gran Reserva category (a minimum of 5 years). These wines are dark, purplish, very full-bodied and sometimes slightly astringent, but also with remarkable smoothness, subtleties and balance.
White and rosé wines are only made for drinking young and there is no ageing. A few traditional sweet generoso wines and oxidised rancio wines are still made, which undergo at least four years of ageing.
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