DOQ Priorat is one of only two wine regions in Spain to hold the highest quality classification (Denominació d'Origen Qualificada), the other being Rioja. The secret lies in the soil: llicorella, a dark, flakey slate that forces vine roots deep into the hillside in search of water, producing tiny, intensely concentrated grapes. The resulting wines — primarily from Garnatxa (Grenache) and Carinyena (Carignan) grapes — are powerful, complex and age-worthy, consistently scoring among Spain's finest.
The landscape is as extraordinary as the wines. The Sierra de Montsant forms a dramatic backdrop of cliff faces and eroded pinnacles, while the vineyards cascade down steep terraces (costers) that have been cultivated since the 12th century when Carthusian monks first planted vines here. The villages — Gratallops, Porrera, Torroja del Priorat, Falset — are small, stone-built and wonderfully atmospheric, with cellars often carved into the rock beneath the houses.
Winery visits in the Priorat tend to be intimate, personal affairs. Many producers are small operations where the winemaker personally guides your tasting. Names like Alvaro Palacios, Clos Mogador and Mas Doix have put the Priorat on the global wine map, but there are dozens of smaller cellars producing exceptional wines at a fraction of the price. Booking in advance is essential, as most wineries receive visitors by appointment only.
The drive from Camping La Noria to the Priorat is itself a scenic experience, climbing from the coast through olive groves and into the increasingly wild mountain landscape. The journey takes about 50 minutes and passes through Reus, where you could stop for a morning coffee and a stroll through the Modernisme quarter before continuing inland.
A Priorat visit pairs beautifully with lunch in one of the region's restaurants, where seasonal Catalan cuisine meets outstanding local wine at prices that would be unthinkable in a major city.
