DOQ Priorat vineyards, tastings & history
The luxury wine experience
visits the historic vineyard enclave of DOQ Priorat. A special itinerary for the wine connoisseur over 2 days with 4/5 star overnight hotel accommodation, Catalan cuisine, guided visits & premium wine tastings that promises to be the most exuberant tour. As there are various options for this tour I have detailled one itinerary below with further tailor-made options on enquiry.
This ancient winemaking region is spectacular with its terraces & steep llicorella slopes providing a unique terroir. The vines burrow through crumbled slate for water & paired with an extreme climate the traditional Grenache & Carignan reach their highest potential. Supporting varieties such as Cab Sauv., Merlot, Syrah, Lledoner Pelut are often in the blend. Wines are of high alcohol & feature very complex mineral notes combined with floral, herbal & fruit macerated in spirit.
White wines are based on Grenache Blanc complimented by Macabeo, Pedro Ximénez & a few others and are notably potent with intensity of exotic fruit combined with high acidity, high alcohol, full bodied, salinity and long finish.
In 1194 the Carthusian monastic order settled at the foot of the Montsant Mountains where legend says there had once been a staircase to heaven used by the Angels. There, they built the Scala Dei Monastery.
Itinerary Overview
Day 1. Leaving early from Valencia you shall arrive at our morning winery visit, one of the original pioneering bodegas that recovered winemaking in the 80´s. This is unique property with possibly the best wines of Priorat & not open to everyone to visit. Our private appointment you shall taste outstanding vintages from this artisan detailist winery. We then visit a small historic cellar in Gratallops with excellent guided tastings of their old vine wines inc. a rare white variety offering unique character. Then it´s time for a gourmet lunch near Gratallops, a boutique restaurant with views over vineyards & Montsant Mountains.
We then move on to the avantgarde new winery of Mas Doix, nr Poboleda. Incredible views of Montsant Escarpment & the steep llicorella slopes on all sides..truly impressive from the crest of the col where their new self sufficient (solar & well water) bodega is located ..built with the natural slate & set into the hillside. A tasting of their fantastic wines from their panoramic tasting room is amazing…just like their wines..la alma de Priorat.
Depending on your hotel choice we shall be staying at the 4* Priorat Hotel Sport in Falset or the relaxed, retreat setting of 5* “Luxury Small Hotel & Winery ” Terra Dominicata. Time to explore Falset, it´s historic streets with wine & local culinary produce – honey, olive oil, hazelnuts, Vermut. Falset Castle & it´s Wine Co-Op are of interest architecturally. Dine at the hotel or at a restaurant in Falset….it´s your call, without my company!
Guests at Terra Dominicata may dine at the hotels Alma Mater restaurant, set in it´s own 130hct estate. Electric bike use, pool, wine tasting in library etc.
Day 2. After breakfast we will make our way to the historic Cellers de Scala Dei. You will step back in time through the cellars used by the monks for their first wines in 1263 & who in time wrote their own “Vine Growing Manual”. Priorat´s first bottled wine was at the Priorato de Scala Dei, these wines taking part at the 1878 Paris Worlds Fair and awarded a gold medal. Many hidden treasures like the medieval barrel hall, fermentation lagares, old fudres & relics of the monks winemaking past are all around you. A fully guided visit of the various halls with a premium tasting of their wines in the cellar afterwards is a joy. They have wines & interesting craft items at their shop to support the vineyard. Lunch will be next ..a modern angle on Catalan cuisine at a small boutique restaurant, “Brots” in Poboleda. After lunch we shall make a visit to our 2nd winery of the day ..state of the art winemaking with French know how, select wines with intensive planting on the steep slopes give remarkable complexity ..even the white Grenache is a star. We shall visit the higher vine slopes by buggy (weather dependant) & you will taste directly from many barrels before we have the actual wine tasting in their plush Scandinavian style salon with local delicatessen.
Finally we return to Valencia in the evening or alternatively you may rest at the hotel a 2nd night for return the next morning ( supplement 1nt b&b) .
**The itinerary for this Luxury trip is open to tailoring & I am happy to discuss the detail of your preferences. Itinerary variable pending winery availablity.
The wines & cuisine on this tour are top level.. reflected in the price with no compromise. Top wines of Spain of limited availability.
Prices
Itinerary
Day 1
- Pickup Valencia hotel 07:40hrs by Mercedes - Café en-route.
- Arrive 1st Pioneer Winery Gratallops 10:40hrs Tour /Prem. tastings .
- 2nd Bodega Tour/Prem. tastings Gratallops.
- Gourmet lunch 1400hrs Gratallops.
- 3rd Bodega 1600hrs Mas Doix Tour/Prem. tastings .
- Optional extra bodega visit/tastings 1830hrs (subject availabilty).
- Check in hotel early evening, free time, dinner at leisure.
Day 2
- Pickup at hotel 09:40hrs.
- Visit 4th Bodega Cellers Scala Dei - Tour of Priory cellars/Prem. tastings.
- Visit Cartuja Scala Dei. optional.
- Gourmet Lunch 1345hrs Brots, Poboleda (or Terra Dominicata).
- Final 5th Bodega Mas Perinet tour vineyard/winery/Prem. tastings + barrel tastings 3hrs.
- Return evening to Valencia (or stay addit. night at hotel returning Valencia next morning- supp. applies) .
Included: All transport, personal guiding available 24/7 during trip, 4 cse gourmet lunch Day 1 & Day 2 (exc. beverages), 1 night hotel accom inc. deluxe breakfast, min.5 winery tours/ prem.tastings of approx. 35-40 premium wines tasted.
Please ask for availability & tour options/prices as can be tailor made just for you.