DO
PRIORAT
(The Priorat Wine Denomination)
GEOGRAPHICAL
CO-ORDINATES
The geographical area is situated between 40º 18’ and north
by 4º 23’ - 4º 38’ west.
AREA
The Priorat covers an area of 197 km2, equivalent to 19.783 ha, of which about 1,600 have been currently under cultivation for under 550 wine-growers.
The wine-producing area qualifying for the Denominació
d’Origen Qualificada (special denomination of origin) Priorat is situated
in the west of the province of Tarragona in the comarca
(an administrative area roughly equivalent to a county) of the Priorat.
It is in a depression formed by the curving around of the Montsant at its
southern end. It is made up of
land located in the minicipalities of la Morera del Montsant – with the
addition of Scala Dei –, la Vilella Alta, la Vilella Baixa, Gratallops,
Bellmunt del Priorat, Porrera, Poboleda, Torroja del Priorat, el Lloar and the
northen part of the minicipalities of Falset and el Molar.
Grapevines
are cultivated at altitudes varying from 100m above sea level, in parts of the
municipalities of Bellmunt del Priorat and el Molar, to 700m, in the
municipality of la Morera del Montsant.
The vineyards are characterised by slopes of over 15% in the majority of
cases. Vineyards are currently
being established on broad terraces which allow the use of agricultural
machinery.
All of the area included in the Denominació
d’Origen Qualificada falls in the comarca
of the Priorat.
The
quality of the wines from the Priorat is determined to a great extent by the
geological features of the land. It
is made up of more or less developed lithosols atop a compact substrate of
carboniferous shales, at shallow or medium depths and without clear profiles,
often alternating with banks of quartzites; the breaking-up of these rocks
generates large amounts of rough scree which prevents soil erosion and makes
cultivation possible on steep slopes. The
soils are slightly acid, with a pH value of around six and an organic material
content of around 2% at the surface.
The
climate is of a temperate Mediterranean type with dry, predominantly north-east
winds. The annual average
temperature is 15ºC, ranging from 6ºC in January to 23ºC in July and August.
Annual rainfall is around 600 ml.
High
levels of sunshine together with a dry climate and scarce rain in summer create
suitable conditions for grapes to ripen with a high sugar content.
The variability of the factors determining the climate and a low risk of
disease in the ripening period mean that the harvesting period is quite long,
beginning in mid-September in Bellmunt and el Lloar and ending in mid-October in
Poboleda and Porrera.
Wine-growing
was introduced by the Carthusian monks of the order of St. Bruno, when King
Alfons the Chaste asked them in 1162 to settle in the area captured from the
Wali of Siurana. The foundation
of the Carthusian monastery of Scala Dei at the foot of the Montsant meant that
seven villages fell under the fuedal authority of the monastery’s Prior.
From then on the area became known as the Priorat.
The monks took on the tasks of planting vines, improving cultivation and
making wines which became famous as wines from
the Priorat.
The
appearance of phylloxera at the beginning of the 20th century meant that vines
had to be replanted on Amercan rootstock, mainly Rupestris
de Lot and more recently 110-R
and 161-49.
The mix of grape varieties changed and today the most common is Carinyena
(Carignan), followed by Garnatxa
Negra (red grenache). Cabernet
Sauvignon has more recently been planted, with very good results in
terms of the wines produced. This
has led the Regulatory Council of the Denomination to ask for it to be included
among the authorised varieties, along with Merlot
and Syrah.
The
area cultivated has shrunk considerably; many vineyards have been abandoned and
others have changed over to hazelnut, almond and olive trees, especially on the
most steeply-sloping land which is consequently the hardest to plough.
Planting is now generally on levelled ground which can be worked with
machinery and planted with two or three parallel rows of vines, which improves
the grape quality. Yield per
hectare is very low: from 1,200 to 1,500 kg per hectare for old vines and never
exceeding 5,000 or 6,000 kg per hectare for young vines in full production.
The denomination’s Regulatory Council allows a density of 2,500 –
9,000 vines per hectare. The
maximum production allowed with densities below 6,500 vines per hectare is 6,000
kg per hectare, and with densities above 6,500 vines per hectare, 8,000 kg per
hectare.
The
wines produced are mostly red, though white wines make up 10% of production and
small amounts of rosé are also made.
Total
production in the year 1999-2000 was 13,116 hl., which is expected to rise by
3,000 hl. in 2000-2001.
THE PRODUCTION EVOLUTION
Campaign Production hl. Mark 1999-2000 13.116 hl Very good 2000-2001 18.984 hl Excelent 2001-2002 17.500 hl Excelent 2002-2003 19.000 hl Good
Ø
Garnatxa negra
(red grenache)
Commonly
known as garnatxa, it is also referred to
as lledoner, tinto
aragonés or tinto navalcarnero.
It is a vigorous variety with a straight, rigid trunk, very compact grapes of
medium to small size, small and round withwith fine skins. As it sprouts
in spring, it is quite sensitive to spring frosts and highly sensitive to
humidity, as well as to fog while it is flowering, which can cause problems in
firming. Weaker rootstock is an advantage, as it improves the firming of
the fruit. It ripens between late September and early October. Yield
is not high because of problems in firming which can harm it. It produces
fine, aromatic wines with quite a high alcohol content and pale colour.
The wine oxidises easily, for which reason this is the most widely-used variety
in making sweet and ranci wines. In
coupage with other varieties, it produces high-quality, aromatic wines.
Ø
Garnatxa
blanca (white grenache)
This
variety is also known as Rioja white grenache.
It is of medium vigour, with a straight, rigid trunk and small, compact,
round grapes with fine skins and golden colouring at ripening.
Sprouting is in spring and therefore sensitive to spring frosts.
It adapts well to all types of terrain.
On Rupestris de Lot there are
problems in the firming of the fruit, though it behaves well on 110-R and
161-49. It produces pleasant
wines of low acidity and high alcohol content, which oxidise easily.
Ø
Macabeo
A
white variety also known as viura, alcañón
and alcañol.
Of average vigour and with a straight, rigid trunk, with large,
very compact white grapes, round in shape and with fine skins.
It sprouts late, though ripening is in spring which means that this
variety is not very sensitive to spring frosts.
It prefers good, fresh soils and adapts well to different climates and
altitudes. It also adapts well
to all types of rootstock, the most suitable in our denomination area being
110-R. It is a vine with a very
high yield which produces fine, fruity and well-balanced wines of high quality.
Ø
Pedro Ximénez
A
white variety also known as Pedro Jiménez,
ximen, ximenencia,
alamis and alamis
de Totana. Of average
vigour, medium-sized elliptical-shaped grapes of average compactness and varying
in size, of a yellowish-green colour, with a very high yield of must.
Although the grape yield per hectare is low, the sugar content is very
high and produces wines with a high alcohol content and low acidity, which are
very suitable for ageing. It
is, therefore, a good wine from which to make sweet and ranci
wines.
Ø
Carinyena (carignan)
Also
known as samso, mazuela,
crujillón and crusilló.
A vigorous variety which produces medium-sized, compact, conical-shaped
grapes with thick skins. As
this variety sprouts in spring, it is sensitive to spring frosts.
It is resistant to drought and strong sun.
It ripens in early October, always after the red and white grenache. A
productive variety, it makes astringent wines with body and colour. Its good
alcohol content makes it a suitable variety for using in coupages.
Ø
Garnatxa
peluda (grenache poilu)
Also
known as lledoner gris, it is often
confused with the red grenache. A
vigorous variety with a straight, rigid trunk, which produces medium to small,
highly compact grapes of an oval shape and with thicker skins than the red
grenache. It sprouts in spring
and is moderately sensitive to frost. As
with the red grenache, weak rootstock favours firming of the fruit.
It ripens between late September and early October, with a middling yield
which tends to be greater than that of the red grenache.
It produces quality wines with little colouring but a high alcohol
content, which oxidise easily.
Denominació
d’Origen Qualificada (special denomination of origin) granted by order of
the Generalitat (autonomous government) of Catalonia’s Department of
Agriculture on 18th December 2000, published in DOC no. 3294 on 29th December
2000.
