Priorat (DOQ)
Priorat ( Catalan, Spanish and Priorat ) is a wine region in the same Catalan comarca. It is located in the steep hills of the Serra de Montsant with suitable Licorella - slate floor, about 30 km from the provincial capital of Tarragona and Cambrils.
The Priory is Catalonia's oldest weinbaubetreibende region. In the Middle Ages, the region was one of the most important wine regions of Spain (→ see also the article viticulture in Spain). After that it was a long time silent until 1989 a substantial rise began, especially through the wines L' Ermita, Clos Erasmus and Finca Dofi that were known in the international market. In 2001 the priory to the highest quality level Spanish DOCa was raised ( Denomination of Origin Calificada ). At present, the cultivation areas Priorat and Rioja are the only two that qualify for this highest designation of origin.
Motors for success are as winemaker Alvaro Palacios and Rene Barbier. Palacios comes from working in the Rioja wine-growing dynasty Palacios Remondo. He learned from Christian Moueix Bordeaux, the "father" of Pomerol wines of Château Pétrus and Château Trotanoy, the secrets of the great Bordeaux wines know and brought his knowledge in the new for him Priorat region a.
The region (197 km ² ), with approximately 1,700 acres of vineyards (as of 2008 ) in the middle of the province of Tarragona was after, founded in 1163 Priory de la Cartoixa d' Escaladei: named (too German " the priory of the Carthusian Monastery of the God Head " ). From the monastery Cartoixa d' Escaladei ruins are still preserved, which are restored for a few years, however. The wine-growing area is almost entirely from the D.O. Montsant enclosed.
The deep dark cherry red and concentrated red wines are very high in alcohol (13.75 and 15% ). They often require several years of bottle aging and are up to 25 years ageable. Red wines are grown to 90% and are due to the particular terroir and the extremely low - income hectares (only 5-6 hl / ha) to the most famous and best in Spain. Notes of ripe fruit and slate floor can be seen.
Approved red grape varieties: Carintilde, Garnacha Tinta ( Recommended Variety ), Garnacha Peluda, Mazuelo ( Recommended Variety ), Merlot, Picapoll negre, Pinot Noir, Syrah and Ull de Llebre. Ull de Llebre is another name for the dominant in Spain and state- favored Tempranillo. The grape varieties Carintilde and Mazuelo are identical. Mazuelo is only the one used in the Rioja region name for the grape Carintilde (there is also an eponymous wine region with the eponymous city).
White Grapes: Chenin Blanc, Garnacha Blanca, Macabeo, Muscat d' Alexandrie, Muscat blanc à petits grains, Pansal, Pedro Ximénez, Picapoll blanca, Viognier.
The few white wines stand out for their brilliant straw yellow color. The flavors are fruity and reminiscent of mountain herbs. On the palate it appear warm and pleasant.
The vineyards of the 90 winegrowers are mostly terraced at an altitude of 150-1000 m above sea level. NN applied to the slopes of the Montsant Mountains. Below the mountains flows the Siurana, a tributary of the Ebro.
The following municipalities are located in the D.O.C. Priorat:
Bellmunt del Priorat, El Lloar, El Molar ( partial), Falset ( partial), Gratallops, La Morera de Montsant, La Vilella Alta, La Vilella Baixa, Poboleda Porrera, Torroja del Priorat.
The competent authority for the priory rule is the " Regulating Body DOCa. Priory " in Torroja del Priorat / Tarragona.