Priorat

Styles

Principal grape varieties

Accessory grape varieties

Terroir

• The territory is formed by Palaeozoic-era materials, principally Devonian and Carboniferous slates, among the oldest in Catalonia associated with vine cultivation.
• The soils are shallow and low in organic matter, formed mainly by the weathering of the slates known as «llicorell» or «llicorella».
• The territory's distance from the sea and the protection afforded by the Sierra de Montsant against cold northerly winds give it a mean annual temperature of between 12 and 14 degrees Celsius.
• In summer, a marked diurnal temperature range is recorded, with nocturnal minima that can fall to 12 degrees Celsius and daytime maxima that can reach 40 degrees Celsius, with the rocky soils attaining even higher values.
• Annual rainfall is scarce, between 400 and 500 litres per square metre, and north-westerly winds cause rapid evaporation of surface soil moisture.
• Vine cultivation on the slopes and steep gradients of this territory is difficult, costly, and yields little.

• Rancio wines are produced without residual sugar through an oxidative process in oak barrels or glass vessels, which imparts tertiary aromas and tile-red hues.
• Mistela is produced by adding wine spirit to must up to 15 degrees of alcohol through a racking process over 7 days that prevents the fermentation of the natural sugars.

• The wines from early harvests (whites, rosés, and reds) are clean and bright, with fruity aromas, pronounced minerality, freshness from their acidity, and a persistent finish.
• The sweet liqueur wines are characterised by a clean appearance, aromas of dried fruit, good structure on the palate, and perceptible sweetness.
• Mistela wines show fresh fruit aromas that are floral and fruity, with marked spiced notes.

• The diurnal temperature swings favour a gradual ripening process and the positive development of the phenolic compounds in the grape.
• The roots of the vines penetrate the slates known as llicorell or llicorella in search of water and nutrients, which imparts notes of minerality to the wines.

Facts drawn from the specification's terroir-link section by automatic interpretation — see the specification (pliego de condiciones).

All appellations in Spain

Sources

• Specification (EUR-Lex, single document)
• National pliego de condiciones (PDF) — +16 varieties added
• eAmbrosia register (EU) — File number PDO-ES-A1560
• Official trade body site — Consell Regulador de la DOQ Priorat