Wine tasting in the Priorat

There is a small region in Catalonia that has stolen my heart. This is the Priorat region, located in the south of the Catalan region. Exactly 140 km south of Barcelona and 40 km west of Tarragona. In this small region of 10,000 inhabitants, there are almost 200 wineries, divided between 2 wine appellations: the DO Montsant and DOQ Priorat. Most of them make wine using traditional methods, with little or no alteration to the environment. A region of incredible landscapes, with wineries that offer wine tastings and experiences for all wine lovers.

1. Discover the Priorat Terroir in a vintage jeep
2. Visit a family winery in the middle of nature.
3. Wine Tasting with incredible Vine Views
4. Wine tasting in a Michelin star restaurant.
5. Learn about the history of Priorat at the Scala Dei winery.

10% OFF: Would you like to book a tour of the Priorat region?

The uniqueness of Priorat

Priorat is a dream destination for sommeliers and wine enthusiasts alike, and on an unseasonably warm spring morning.

Mya from Vinspiration.co.uk

As I was saying, Priorat is a unique region. Not only because of its 4,000 hectares of vineyards spread over a rugged territory that is difficult to access. But also because almost 200 wineries are located in beautiful landscapes. Next to a hillside covered with vineyards and some remote villages to visit. Where the alteration of man is barely visible, and we find a rugged landscape before us: rocky mountains, terraced vineyards, and charming villages are some of the attractions that we see in the Priorat. A region that offers a great experience to every wine lover.

But what makes Priorat wine so unique? The explanation can be found in the terroir. That is the soil and climate of this region. It confers a distinctive flavor to Grenache and Carignan, the most widely planted grapes in the area, capable of painting the expression of a landscape in each bottle of wine. Here we find mainly two types of soils—the licorella, which are the most widespread slate soils in the DOQ Priorat. And clay soils are more common in the vicinity of rivers and the Montsant DO. Both soils confer a unique flavor to both Priorat and Montsant. Priorat is known for its full-bodied and intensely flavored wines, while Montsant is distinguished by fresher and fruitier wines.

This, together with the dry and hot climate in summer, offers the best conditions for red varieties. Especially Grenache and Cariñena, which are accustomed to these extreme conditions. Producing wines of great intensity. Due to the tremendous effort each vine affords for every kilogram of production. This translates into a higher concentration of sugar and minerals per grape. A very positive factor in obtaining full-bodied wines. This also explains why DOQ Priorat wines are more expensive due to reduced yields on each plant. A lower production ends up being compensated by higher-quality wines.

> See our post about what to do in the Priorat region.

5 wine tastings in Priorat

Jeep Tour at a family winery from Porrera

Duration: 2 hours
Price: € 35
Town: Porrera

In the center of Porrera, one of the most picturesque villages in Priorat, you’ll find the cellar of Sangenís i Vaqué, surrounded by other renowned wineries yet standing out for its deep roots and authentic charm. This multi-generational family winery, now run by Maria and Roger, proudly carries on a long winemaking tradition dating back to the late 19th century.

Maria, the winemaker, continues to craft the family’s classic wines with the same philosophy that her father, Pere Sangenís, established—patiently aging them for several years in the bottle before release to ensure balance and refinement. At the same time, she’s introducing a more contemporary line of wines with fresher fruit expression and softer textures, making the tasting experience at Sangenís i Vaqué a perfect combination of tradition and innovation, appealing to all palates.

The family’s vines were already being cultivated long before Priorat became the famous appellation it is today. In the 19th and early 20th centuries, like many families in the region, they sold their wines in bulk, storing them in large wooden barrels deep in cellars carved out of the slate hillside. With the revival of Priorat in the 1990s, Sangenís i Vaqué began bottling their own wines, bringing their unique interpretation of the Porrera terroir to global markets.

Their iconic wine, Clos Monlleó, quickly earned praise from critics and professionals around the world for its complexity, elegance, and silky structure—qualities derived from old Cariñena and Garnacha vines planted in the stony “llicorella” soils and nurtured by Porrera’s mild Mediterranean climate.

Visiting Sangenís i Vaqué offers not only a delightful tasting of these distinctive wines but also the chance to connect directly with the winemakers themselves. You can even take a jeep tour through the terraced vineyards overlooking the valley, learning the family’s stories while admiring breathtaking views over Porrera—one of the most singular landscapes in Priorat.

> See the tours in the Sangenis I Vaque official website.

Meet a family winery in the middle of the Priorat hills

• Duration: 1,5 hours
• Price: €18
• Village: Poboleda

This is another fascinating wine-tasting experience in the heart of Priorat. The only road leading to this beautiful winery is already an adventure of its own—a scenic, well-maintained dirt path winding through the hills and vineyards of the region, immersing you fully in nature before you even arrive.

At the end of the road, surrounded by steep terraced vineyards carved into the slate soils typical of Priorat, you’ll find a charming stone cottage that houses Burgos Porta – Mas Sinén. This organic winery is owned by a multigenerational family deeply rooted in the region. The winemakers, Salvador Burgos and Conxita Porta, founded the winery in the early 2000s after years of caring for their vines and producing small-batch wines that reflect the purest expression of the land.

During your visit, Salvador, the charismatic and passionate winemaker, personally guides you through the vineyards and cellar. His approach is genuinely warm and informative, making the experience feel like visiting a friend rather than attending a formal tasting. Despite the many challenges he faced—in particular, starting as a vine grower in the 1980s when Priorat was still an unknown and struggling wine region—Salvador has never lost his positivity or his deep commitment to the land.

Today, Burgos Porta produces around 30,000 bottles a year, all certified organic, using traditional methods and native grape varieties such as Garnacha and Carinyena. Their wines, including the well-known Mas Sinén range, are now sold worldwide and celebrated for their balance, authenticity, and strong sense of place.

Visiting the winery is an intimate and memorable experience—a chance to understand the soul of Priorat through the stories and wines of one of its most genuine producers.

> Go to Burgos Porta winery official website.

Tasting international wines with views over Montsant

• Duration: 1 hour
• Price: €20
• Village: Gratallops

In the famous little town of Gratallops, home to more than 25 wineries, few offer as warm and authentic an experience as Devinssi Winery. Small in scale but big in charm, Devinssi delivers one of the most engaging and personal wine tastings in the Priorat region.

The visit is led by Jordi Ustrell, the charismatic host known for his sense of humor and his ability to switch effortlessly between several languages, adapting each tasting to suit guests from all over the world. His passion and storytelling bring the wines—and the region—to life.

What truly sets this tasting apart is the spectacular panoramic view from the vineyard terrace. From this spot, you can admire the rolling Priorat hills stretching across the Montsant mountains, the charming villages of Gratallops and El Lloar, and, on clear days, even the distant Ebro Valley and the mountains of Terra Alta.

During the tasting, Jordi guides you through a fun and delicious journey of four different wines, each reflecting the unique slate soils and rugged beauty of Priorat. One highlight is a 100% Carignan (Samsó) wine, made from old vines that surround the winery itself—some of the oldest in Gratallops. In Jordi’s playful way, he invites visitors to guess the age of these vines, and most are delightfully surprised when they hear the true number.

Founded in 2000, Devinssi is a boutique artisan winery committed to sustainable viticulture and limited production, making roughly 10,000 bottles per year. Their wines—such as Il·lia, Rocapoll, and the Mas de les Valls —capture the soul of Priorat in every glass: honest, handcrafted, and deeply connected to the land.

Visiting Devinssi feels less like a formal tasting and more like sharing a relaxing conversation among friends, surrounded by nature, good humor, and great wine.

> Visit the Devinssi winery official website.

Montsant wines and Michelin-star restaurant

Duration: 5 hours
Price: €135
Town: Cornudella del Montsant

On this visit you will discover the most intimate part of the Ronadelles Winery, stepping on one of the most emblematic vineyards of the Giral family and enjoying the most authentic vintages in the region. The wines you will taste are made with grapes from the oldest vineyards of the Giral family, grapes harvested by hand and selected on the vine. Artisan wines, fermented with their own yeast and vinified by hand as our grandparents did.

The wine tourism activity continues in the Quatre Molins restaurant, the only one with a Michelin Star in the Priorat, and offers a wine list only with wineries of the Montsant and Priorat Qualified Designation of Origin.

It starts at 11:00 a.m. at the entrance of the Bodega Ronadelles and ends at approximately 4:00 p.m. at the Quatre Molins Restaurant.

> See the wine-tasting experience on the Ronadelles official website.

Priorat and Scala Dei, history is closely linked.

• Duration: 1 hour and 30 minutes
• Price: €25
• Village: Scala Dei

If we talk about the history of Priorat, then we must mention Scala Dei. The first Carthusian monastery in Spain was the main contributor to the wine history of the Priorat. The Carthusian monks came from France and decided to plant vines after centuries of Muslim rulers. The poor soil, with little organic matter, was ideal for cultivating vines. An incredible idea that would change the region’s history forever.

This 19th-century winery still uses the monastery farmhouse, which has nearly 5 centuries of history. Here, they produce some of the best-valued wines in the region, such as Sant Antoni and Heritage. Wines that you can taste, along with other great Scala Dei wines. It is an ideal experience to learn about the history of Priorat and taste the winery’s wines. Complex wines based on Grenache and Carignan, with fresh notes and mineral flavors. Aiming to recover the tradition of the Carthusian monks of the 12th century. With handcrafted production methods.

> See the wine tastings on the official site of Scaladei Winery.

Get 10% OFF on our Priorat small-group tour

Book a small-group experience in the Priorat to three family wineries with pick-up from Barcelona. Use the Promo Code down below: WTBLOG