Discover Priorat in six wines
Located in Spain’s northeast Catalonia region, the Priorat wine region is one of the country’s most prestigious, famed for its much-loved expressions of Garnacha. A bold and powerful, terroir-driven, mineral red wine, Priorat is famously crafted from old-vine Garnacha and Cariñena, cultivated on steep vineyards nourished by slate-quartz earth known as llicorella soils.
This concentrated Spanish red wine features expressive dark fruit, complexity, pronounced tannins, and good minerality. This premium region holds Spain’s top band designation: DOQ Priorat. It also showcases a mix of unofficial, producer-led, single-vineyard and village classifications, inspired by the Burgundy appellation Villages to Grand Cru system. These informal “sub-appellations” act as a guide to Piorat’s distinct vineyards and the outstanding Catalonia wine they produce.
Quality, not quantity, is the region’s philosophy, with around five million bottles produced each year by 109 wineries in this rugged area, a stone’s throw from the Montsant Mountains. Priorat production is a significant economic activity of many of the region’s villages, with renowned estates including Alvaro Palacios, Clos Mogador, Mas Doix, Terroir al Límit, and Clos de l’Obac.
Fast facts
Name: The name of this renowned appellation has its origins in the presence of Carthusian monks who settled in the area from Provence in France in the 12th century. The monks cultivated vines, made wine, and built a priory – hence the appellations’ name.
Location: Priorat is situated in Tarragona province, northeastern Spain. The region covers around 2,000 hectares of vineyards, with sheer slopes rising to 100 and 800 meters above sea level.
Climate and soil: Priorat enjoys a Mediterranean climate, featuring hot, arid summers and cold winters, extremes that are moderated by the region’s close vicinity to the sea and the height of its vineyards. The appellation’s soils are famed for their llicorella, a blend of black slate and quartz, adding hallmark minerality to the wines.
Grapes: Garnacha (Grenache) and Cariñena (Carignan) are the chief blend grapes, with the former also known for its varietal Priorat. Small quantities of international varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Syrah sometimes appear, contributing complexity.
Appellation: In 2000, Priorat received its DOQ (Denominació d’Origen Qualificada) status, the top band in the Spanish wine hierarchy. It is one of only two wines to be awarded this top tier alongside Rioja. Under this official appellation umbrella, producers have developed casual but useful sub-categories to further guide Priorat fans. These comprise Gran Vinya Classificada or Vins de Finca, which are historical, top-tier sites producing single-vineyard, old-vine Priorat. Vinya Classificada, the band just below, signifies high-quality, named vineyards, and Vinya de Qualitat or Vins de Vila, indicates quality, entry-level Priorat wines that are often blends from younger vines.
Food pairing: This powerful, intense, mineral red is perfect for rich game dishes, grilled red meat, hearty meat or vegetable stews, and aged cheeses like Manchego, Cheddar, Gouda, or Pecorino.
Fun fact: The hectarage of Priorat plummeted dramatically from the late 19th century until the 1990s because of vine disease and mass tourism. Pioneers like Alvaro Palacios brought the region back from the brink with a focus on world-class, old-vine Garnacha and Cariñena.
Westgarth Wines has curated a diverse selection of Priorat from our portfolio for you to enjoy!
Indulge in the wines:
Prestigious boutique winery, Clos Terrasses, is admired for its elegant, terroir-driven Garnacha and Cariñena produced from organically cultivated holdings in Priorat’s Gratallops area. Flagship wine, Priorat Erasmus is Garnacha-led with around 25% Syrah in a potpourri of sappy dark berry, exotic spice, vibrant minerality, and firm, well-integrated tannins, all closing with a zesty, long finish.
Alvaro Palacios is a Priorat pioneer, credited with contributing to the region’s turn-of-the-century revival and producing old-vine Garnacha and Cariñena wines that speak intricately of their origins. This benchmark estate micro produces the exquisite Priorat L’Ermita, a Garnacha wine with small quantities of Cariñena plus white grapes like Garnacha Bianca. Vibrant and fresh, with red and black berry, spicy hints, and rich minerality, this red is framed by firm yet gentle tannins courtesy of 16 months’ aging in new French oak.
Celebrated for its biodynamic viticulture and minimal-interventionist winemaking, Terroir al Límit offers Priorat Manyes from old vines, soaking up the sun on elevated, west-facing slopes. Made from Garnacha Peluda (Hairy Garnacha), the fuzzy leaves of this variant help to preserve moisture, providing the plant with much-needed hydration. Elegant and aromatic with dried strawberry and florals in a full, vibrant, linear mouth with a creamy texture and finessed tannins, aging in large cement tanks promotes pristine terroir expression.
Mas Doix is a Priorat estate known for its biodynamic viticulture and wines that express a sense of place, with the appellation’s signature llicorella shining through in each cuvée. Its old-vine (including some centenarians) Priorat Costers De Vinyes Velles is a Garnacha-Cariñena blend with a splash of Merlot showcasing concentrated berry with chocolate tones, licorice hints, and graphite notes in a grippy mouth with fresh, lifting acidity. A beautiful example of a fine Priorat blend.
Esteemed Priorat estate, Mas Martinet, crafts expressive reds that allow the appellation’s signature slate soils to emerge in every bottle. Working with old Garnacha and Cariñena vines, its powerful Cami Pesseroles is led by the former varietal, showcasing black cherry, spice, and earthy mineral notes, in a well-structured, savory mouth with a long finish.
Clos de l’Obac has a name for bold, complex Priorat Garnacha-Cariñena blends that feature international varieties from top vineyards around Gratallops. Its flagship wine is a Garnacha, Carineña, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Syrah cuvée, admired for its complex layers of red and black fruit, Asian spice, incense, espresso hints, and floral notes. A chewy mouth closes with a laser-sharp, persistent finish.
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