Priorat

Priorat lies in the centre of Tarragona province, in a mountain amphitheatre at the foot of the Serra de Montsant, which shelters it from cold northern winds. The climate is dry, with 400 to 500 mm of rain a year and sharp day-night temperature swings. Vines grow on very steep slopes over llicorella, a dark slate. Its reds are based on Garnacha and Cariñena. It is one of Spain's two DOCa (DOQ in Catalan), alongside Rioja.