The wine tourism routes are designed for lovers of good wine while they enjoy it in an unparalleled environment. You can find tours in which the wine cellars throughout Spain will give you the best flavor.
La Cartoixa d'Scala Dei, founded in the 12th century, is the reference point and a must-see in the region. The territory of the Priorat Denomination of Origin (DO) is characterized by slate and its wines are a reflection of the harsh climatic conditions and the peculiar orography. The presence of monks until the mid-19th century favored the cultivation of the vineyard and the quality of a product that today maintains international prestige, the wines of the Priorat Designation of Origin.
One of the towns within the Designation of Origin is Bellmunt del Priorat, with a mining past, it shows the remains of that activity that lasted centuries and that marked its character. It is worth highlighting the modernist building from where the mines can be admired and where the laboratory was, the mining colony, located in the same town, and the visit to the Mining Museum where you can go down and tour with a guide the first gallery at 35 meters deep.
Following the road we will reach Lloar, an old passageway between the Ebro and Tarragona that protects ancient generations of independent travelers. Very characteristic rough streets and balconies over the Montsant River. We find a picturesque corner to spend some time in Font Vella. We continue towards Gratallops, one of the centers of the great current wine activity. In its term we find the second degree Cooperative that covers the harvest of the small neighboring towns, several internationally known wineries.
The picturesque Consolació hermitage, halfway between Gratallops and La Vilella Baixa, presides over the panorama.
Next we will find La Vilella Alta, a small town located on top of a hill near Montsant (southern slope). The parish church houses an altarpiece from 1700 (currently being restored). Following the oenological route we will find the town of Scala Dei, the old convent raid, which was in the time of the Cartoixans the headquarters of the house business.
From here, the brother who farmed directed the workers, monks or not, who took care of the wineries, flocks and various crops. Today it is a charming corner with a primitive church surrounded by stately homes and wineries. The ruins of the Cartoixa d'Scala Dei are of great interest. The projection of an audiovisual and a restored cell help to understand the way of life of the local community.
Continuing on the road to La Morera de Montsant, an old town of Saracen origin that preserves a Romanesque doorway in the parish church. The ruins of the ancient Cartoixa d'Scala Dei and the small town of the same name are located within its municipal area.
We will continue towards Porrera, a town surrounded by almond trees and vineyards and one of the towns with the largest number of private wineries. There are old stately homes, many of which display sundials from the 19th century, some of them of great interest, among which we find the largest in Catalonia. Other points of interest on the wine route are the hermitage of Sant Antoni Abad (1610) and the 18th century parish church.
We will finish this journey passing through Torroja del Priorat, where the Sant Miquel Regulatory Council is based. In the Joan Pàmies winery museum you can admire a private collection of presses and other old winemaking equipment among various farm tools.
