Priorat Wine Region
Where to Stay and What to Do in this Spanish Wine Region
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Located 90 miles south west of Barcelona lies the small but mighty Priorat wine region.
This enchanting pocket has managed to fly relatively under the radar. Of course locals and wine enthusiasts are well aware of the bold, high quality product it produces, but as as place to visit, it still has the delicious quality of feeling pure and untapped.
While there are plenty of things to do and taste for wine lovers, the region also offers stunning vistas, beautiful hiking trails and some accommodations that feel like a true retreat from the noise of modern life. Below I break down Five recommendations for your next visit to Priorat.
PRIORAT WINE TOURS FROM BARCELONA
If you’re staying in Barcelona and want to visit Priorat, check out these options:
PRIORAT HOTELS
5 IDEAS FOR YOUR NEXT TRIP TO THE PRIOAT WINE REGION
SCALA DEI WINERY TOUR
Priorat winemaking has a deep history dating back to the 1100s, when the Carthusian monks settled in the region. In fact, the former monastery gives the area its name: Priorat from prior.
We’ve visited this celler a few times with visiting family and friends, not only because they offer a nice english language tour, but also because it has a strong significance in the region as “the birthplace of Priorat.” After the wine tour, drive up to the ruins for a walk around.
FALSET WINE FEST
One of the largest towns in the Priorat region, Falset holds an annual wine fest every May. It’s a lively event and great opportunity to taste test the region’s wines.
During another visit to Falset - my husband ran a trail race up there - we stayed in the Hotel Restaurant Lotus. We happened to be in the top floor apartment that included a terrace overlooking the mountains and the city and it was quite lovely.
AND, it just so happened to be the town’s Festa Major (see sparkler photo below!) That’s a whole other article though. Make sure you’re subscribed to my e-mail list to be alerted when I share more! I plan to do a roundup of some of the festivals and traditions of Catalonia.
VISIT LA VIELLA BAIXA
Our friends had recommended this town, calling it “the Manhattan of Priorat,” since the buildings appear like skyscrapers set against the natural incline of the mountain. Nice place to grab a lunch or visit a wine and cheese shop.
VISIT GRATALLOPS
Many say that Gratallops wine is the best that Priorat has to offer.
We had the great fortune to visit the small, family-run Celler abadia on our very first trip to Priorat. (Long story short: although they don’t do official tours, a friendly waiter in Tarragona insisted we contact his friend Jeroni about visiting the winery in place of our original plans of a larger scale operation outside Barcelona.)
Jeroni took us in his personal car out to the vineyards. It was such an spontaneous, intimate, experience. Not to mention, the wine is fantastic. My favorite restaurant in Tarragona sells the bottles and they have exquisite taste. We still talk about this trip.
Even if you don’t do a winery visit, Gratallops would be a nice place to have lunch and taste local wines.
KAYAK IN SIURANA RESERVOIR THEN LUNCH WITH VIEWS
This is a fun activity for a hot summer day. After the excursion, wind your way up the mountain to the charming medieval town of Siurana. There are some truly spectacular look out points from above where you can get a feel for the vastness of the mountains and the river that snakes between them.
Wander the cobblestone streets and find a place for a nice spanish lunch. We popped into Els Tallers and loved our views from the back terrace.
Salud!
Pair this with my Barcelona City Guide.
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