Priorat

Styles

Principal grape varieties

Accessory grape varieties

Terroir

• Paleozoic slate soils (Devonian and Carboniferous), the oldest in Catalonia's vineyards.
• The roots penetrate the llicorella in search of water; the soil imparts notes of minerality to the wine.
• Extreme thermal variation in summer: nocturnal lows of 12 °C against midday highs of 40 °C.
• The sierra de Montsant shields the vineyards from cold northerly winds; northwesterly winds rapidly evaporate moisture. (via Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0)
• Scarce rainfall (400–500 l/m²) and hard soils limit vine development and reduce disease pressure.

• The vines sink their roots into Paleozoic slates (llicorella) of low organic matter, imparting notes of minerality to the wines.
• The high sugar concentration of Priorat grapes has historically favoured the production of high-alcohol and/or residual-sweetness styles, including rancios, licores, and mistelas.

• Young wines (whites, rosés, reds): clear and bright, with fruity aromas, pronounced minerality, fresh acidity, and a consistent finish.
• Age-worthy reds: concentration, body, and structure, driven by slow ripening on llicorella soils under a dry climate.

• The roots penetrate the llicorelles in search of water and nutrients, transferring notes of minerality to the wine.

Facts drawn from the cahier's terroir-link section (Lien au terroir) by automatic interpretation — see the the specification.

Sources

• 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