Priorat

Situated in the Tarragona province, Priorat is a very small winegrowing area covering only 4,150 acres where deep, intense red wines have been made for the last eight centuries. However, since being granted DOC status in 2000 winemakers have spent time improving winemaking methods in order to create wines of exquisite quality. The Carinyena (Carignan) grape and, to a lesser extent, the Garnatxa (Grenache) are the key to winemaking in Priorat. Harvested either young or aged to Gran Reserva, grapes are subtly blended to produce the Prioratos – a robust, garnet-coloured red, with rich, concentrated flavours and an intense bouquet. The region has a dry, temperate climate where daytime and night time temperatures vary dramatically – as a result, vineyards produce modest yields of these much acclaimed grapes considered to be some of the best in the region, and indeed the country, making Priorat reds some of the most expensive in Spain.