To speak of Priorat is almost synonymous with heroic viticulture. It is best understood this way for the simple reason that we are dealing with a rugged and steep terrain, featuring slopes —costers— frequently described in wine literature as "impossible".

The striking beauty of its terraced hillsides dotted with vines stands in stark contrast to the sheer hardship required to work them under such conditions.

Llicorella —slate— is a word inextricably linked to this region. It defines the main defining component of its soils and, consequently, its wines, serving as a key factor that has elevated them to stand shoulder to shoulder with the Great Wines of the international wine world.

For our legs, these "impossible" slopes mean that the physical effort will also often be Heroic. Even on shorter routes, a demanding ride is guaranteed, which is why the use of e-bikes is strongly recommended.

The Priorat landscape explored in this experience highlights the Grandes Viñas Clasificadas (Grand Classified Vineyards) and other terroirs behind some of the iconic, ultra-premium wines that put the region on the global map and energized its broader economy. Mas de la Rosa, Tossal d'en Bou, Manyetes, Mas d'en Gil, L'Ermita... are place names, revered almost as sacred in the wine world, that will unfold before our eyes along the route.

The photos below offer a glimpse into these legendary sites. In almost every one of them, it becomes clear why we named this journey PRIORAT HEROIC.

To say Porrera is simply to say Priorat.

Mas d'en Gil estate in Bellmunt del Priorat, Vinya Classificada and Historic Vineyard.

Gran Vinya Classificada Tossal d'en Bou in Poboleda. Old vines for the legendary Mas Doix 1902 Tossal d'en Bou.

Colorful rolling hills in Porrera.

Former mining complex alongside terraced vineyards in Bellmunt del Priorat.

The Serra del Montsant at the end of the day, seen from L'Ermita de la Consolació in Gratallops.

Characteristic terraced formations that make a Priorat landscape instantly recognizable among thousands of images.
In the photograph: Les Aubages from Clos Mogador.

Days of exploration in L'Ermita. Along with Tossal d'en Bou in Poboleda and Mas de La Rosa in Porrera, L'Ermita is one of the three "Grans Vinyes Classificades" of the DOQ Priorat.
The terroir, located on a hill beside L'Ermita de la Consolació in Gratallops, is the birthplace and namesake of one of winemaking master Álvaro Palacios' Great Wines.

The arrival of Carthusian monks in the 12th century and the establishment of the monastery known as La Cartuja de Scala Dei marked the historic moment when the modern Priorat region began to take shape—a territory then governed under the authority of the monastery's prior.

The backdrop of the imposing Sierra del Montsant entirely defines the identity of La Cartuja; it is impossible to escape the influence of such a powerful presence. The mountain's sheer cliffs mesmerize the eye, revealing a deep, telluric energy within the landscape that is hard to ignore.

Dwarfed on the slopes connecting Escaladei to the mountain's vertical rock faces, scattered vineyard plots emerge here and there: authentic historic terroirs, living remnants of a past where, according to surviving records, vine coverage was ten times greater than what we see today.

Just as in so many other parts of old Europe, it was the monks who developed and passed down winemaking knowledge. The Scala Dei Winery stands as a living testament to this legacy. It remained the constant thread when historical upheavals forced the monks to abandon the monastery. And when vine cultivation dangerously declined in the early 20th century, Scala Dei —alongside a handful of local producers— kept the winemaking flame alive through to the present day.

Our journey takes place in the vast natural amphitheater at the foot of the Montsant cliff walls. This is demanding terrain. Some trails are rocky, requiring sturdy bike tires, and if your physical fitness isn't optimal, an e-bike is highly recommended.

Otherwise, a spectacular experience is guaranteed. It is no exaggeration to say that we are standing in one of the most significant wine landscapes in the Iberian Peninsula.

Wine-growing environment beneath the Serra de Montsant in Escaladei. The region shown in the image can be considered the birthplace of the area's winemaking history under the designation of Priorat.

Charterhouse of Escaladei

Avenida de las Vinyes

New vineyards expanding higher up the slopes of the Sierra del Montsant.

Serra del Montsant.

Current climate conditions are forcing winemakers and grape growers to seek higher altitudes for new plots. In the image, a recent plantation managed by Celler Scala Dei, located between 600 and 700 meters above sea level on the upper terrace of the Serra del Montsant amphitheater.

Bordering on the surrealism of heroic viticulture. Vineyards of Celler Vidalba near Poboleda.

La Morera de Montsant, located at an altitude of 750 meters beneath the cliffs of the Serra del Montsant and virtually above all the DOQ Priorat vineyards, is one of the ideal starting points for cycling.

When land is scarce, buildings tend to reach for the sky. Vilella Baixa.

Old vines awaiting the night near Escaladei.

First of all, it is necessary to clear up the confusion that inevitably overcomes visitors arriving in the Priorat region, as they never lose sight of the northern horizon dominated by the Serra del Montsant.

The distinction between Priorat and Montsant is only real in enological terms. DO Priorat and DO Montsant exist as separate wine appellations, but geographically the Priorat region encompasses both. The horizons remain the same: the aforementioned Serra del Montsant to the north, the Serra de Llaberia and Montalt ranges to the south, and the Serra de Llangossets —home to La Figuera— to the west.

The best analogy to understand this blend of geography and wine is to visualize a fried egg: the yolk inside represents winemaking Priorat with its famous slate soils —licorella—, while the white surrounding it represents Montsant, characterized by predominantly limestone soils and slopes that, at least in certain areas, are gentler and less "impossible" than those of neighboring Priorat.

Translated to our cycling routes, this means longer rides will likely cover miles across both appellations. In fact, you may encounter the almost paradoxical scenario where neighboring vineyards belong to two different designations: one DO Priorat and the other DO Montsant. Naturally, the riding style, route elevation profile, and difficulty remain very similar across both areas.

This route option, which we call LA FIGUERA, traverses the upper ridgeline of the Serra de Llangossets, creating a kilometers-long natural balcony overlooking the terraced valleys and steep, vine-draped slopes of classic Priorat. La Vilella Baixa and Alta, El Lloar, El Molar, Gratallops... these are legendary names in the international wine world that bring a distinct sense of myth and identity to the route's ever-changing LANDSCAPE.

Vineyards around La Figuera. Opposite, separated by the Montsant river, lies the Serra de Montsant Natural Park.

"Days of exploration" in La Figuera. The hidden vineyard of Espectacle emerges like treasures in fairy tales.

Espectacle terroir

Serra Llangossets seen from the Les Guinarderes area in Gratallops.

La Vilella Alta and Baixa and the La Plantadeta terroir from the Balcó del Priorat.

Cliffs of Siurana at the westernmost end of the route. Hidden at their feet, small vineyard plots host some of the new terroirs of the Montsant DO.

Vineyards sheltered by the forest in Cabacés.

Between Bellmunt del Priorat and Falset, the landscape is almost overwhelmingly beautiful. Without realizing it, we will have crossed the invisible line separating the DOCa Priorat from the Montsant DO.

The lands of the DO Montsant are so overflowing with historical and winemaking interest that offering this second MONTSANT route option feels almost mandatory.

In the southern area of the region, just 6 miles (10 km) as the crow flies from the Mediterranean, the Sierras de Llaberia, El Montalt, and Tivissa embrace a landscape that is slightly gentler —in terms of gradient— than that of neighboring Priorat. This is the terrain where this route unfolds.

Make no mistake, though: the route traces the slopes of the Serra de Llaberia Natural Reserve. While the vineyards here might not sit on "impossible slopes" like those of Priorat, reaching some of the most captivating mid-slope plots still demands real effort. Just as with the previous LANDSCAPES, an e-bike can be a very welcome option if your fitness level isn't at its peak.

Very often, Montsant winemakers are the exact same producers crafting wines in Priorat. The same expertise and winemaking heritage are poured into wines where the physical demands of field labor are somewhat less extreme. The result is that Montsant genuinely delivers, earning its place in the international wine scene thanks to an outstanding quality-to-price ratio. All that's left for us is to experience it firsthand.

Serra de Llaberia.

"Días de búsqueda" en la Serra de Llaberia.

Viñas en pendiente en la Serra de Llaberia.

Capçanes

Vinyes Domènech

¿Futuros terroirs?

Nuevas plantaciones

In southern Catalunya, tucked away in the strip of land bounded by the Ebro River to the north and the coastal ranges and the Matarranya region to the south, lies the almost unexpected region of Terra Alta. It forms part of a broader territory known as Terres de l'Ebre, which gathers the southern Tarragona districts accompanying the Ebro through its final stretches down to the Mediterranean Sea.

We won't need to pedal far to feel the strong sense of identity this landscape exudes.
This distinct character—which translates seamlessly into its wines—is precisely what led to the establishment of the Terra Alta Designation of Origin across this modestly sized geographic area.

Perhaps the region's most defining feature is the one frequently highlighted in local wine tourism, captured in a phrase that has become its signature slogan:
Terra Alta, the soul of Garnacha Blanca.

The slogan isn't entirely accurate: the region hosts some of Catalonia's vineyard plots classified as Finca Qualificada — such as El Mas and La Serra — where red wines are by no means absent. However, in the history of the region — which alone accounts for a third of all the White Grenache in the world — the production of Great Whites boasts unquestionable presence and antiquity, and there is no doubt that this element will be a key feature of our journey.

Els Ports Natural Park

Celler Edetària y Finca Qualificada de Catalunya El Mas

Cooperativa de Gandesa

Rocas del Benet

Horta de Sant Joan desde el Celler Les Vinyes del Convent.

Els Ports Natural Park

Finca Más de Sotorres bajo la mole de la Serra dels Ports.