Our first trip to Priorat was everything we’d imagined and more: dramatic landscapes, unforgettable wines, and some of the warmest hospitality we’ve experienced anywhere in the wine world.
This corner of Spain may be globally revered by wine lovers, but it still feels wonderfully untouched and deeply authentic. Here’s a look at the people, places, and moments that made Priorat such a memorable experience for us including stops at Celler Gritelles, Clos Figueras, and Cal Pla.
It’s difficult to imagine, standing among Priorat’s steep, slate-covered vineyards, that this severe landscape was once considered expendable. By European standards, its ascent has been unusually fast. Today, the region’s wines command global attention, and its slopes are a big draw for collectors and sommeliers alike.
Clos Figueras sits at the heart of this transformation as a clear example of how vision, timing, and belief reshaped one of Spain’s most unlikely success stories.
We recently made our first visit to Priorat. Seeing it firsthand, there’s no gradual introduction to its scale.
Old vines flanked by terraced vineyards.
Towering terraced hillsides rise into view, etched with ancient vines, the full scale registering all at once.
Jagged ridgelines, stacked terraces, and sun-drenched slate soils define the landscape, where gnarled old vines cling improbably to slopes so steep they still require the steady footing of mules.
Set inland from the Mediterranean, Priorat is surrounded by mountains that form a natural amphitheatre of vineyards. Its dynamic topography is marked by vineyards carved into rock, punctuated by olive groves and hazelnut trees.
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