The big Priorat report
Year 14, No. 17
Highlights: DOQ Priorat & DO Montsant Report
This week is a joyous one as it sees the release of the annual Priorat Regional Report. Contained within are reviews for nearly 300 wines in DOQ Priorat & DO Montsant as well as the 4,000 word main article that looks at the current trends, changes, and potential future of the region.
This is by far and away the most complete and detailed report for what is one of Spain’s top regions as the research is based not on a one week or one month visit, but being based there the entire year. It allows a far more in depth look at the vintage growing conditions, ongoing talks with the winemakers, and of course, the hospitality offer in the region.
In all the Regional Reports on the site, there’s always a section on visiting the region in question as it’s quite important to have a sense of where to go and what to visit above and beyond ratings of the wines. Visiting wine regions in Spain still isn’t as developed as France or the Holy Grail that is California. Despite that, it’s changed massively over the last decade and Spain has some absolutely striking places to visit that also happen to have wine made in them.
In composing this report, I realized that 2024 has been different in many ways as it’s seen the return of the wine curious tourists or ‘enotourists’ to the Priorat region. While Barcelona is literally choking to death on tourism these days, Priorat is still a very nice place to visit with an offer of restaurants and hotels to compliment that wineries. Starting last year, I feel that the offer has thankfully picked up where it left off in terms of growth before the pandemic hit.
Everyone I encounter as a visitor never fails to mention to me how incredibly ‘empty’ Priorat is and it’s true, it’s a very peaceful place that’s nice to see pretty much any time of the year, even in the winter. There’s admittedly still a bit of work to be done in terms of more options for dinner during the weekdays, but it will get there some day, I hope.
In addition to the the larger report, given that this is the 50th anniversary of the first ‘la Cartoixa’ wine, it’s a great opportunity to run an article looking at the history of the ‘Priorat bottle’. It may seem like a silly thing to focus on when there’s a massive drought affecting the region, but at the same time, if you don’t keep looking forward in wine, you start going backwards.
And now, back to the regularly-scheduled harvest…
Drink well, be well.
-Miquel
(*) Free to read
The Featured Report
Priorat & Montsant 2024
Here we have the latest snapshot of this, one of Spain’s most exciting and high-quality regions in the entire country. There have been hardships and difficulties in recent years, but the wines are still damned good.
And now this
The wine lands of the south (aka Andalucía) in Málaga have recently made some updates to their bylaws including the introduction of a nearly lost and very curious grape variety. (*)
Perhaps you’re in the mood for something a little more narrative from wine country? In that case, you should take a look at the latest piece from the new, ‘Water of Light’ newsletter which delves into the topic of ‘natural water’. (*)
And lastly, not to be outdone by southern neighbors, the folks in DOP Cebreros have released a very interesting set of changes (*) to their bylaws as well which take into account the looming realities of Climate Change.