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Priorat

 
Wine Lover's Companion: Priorat; Priorato DOCa
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[pree-oh-RAHT; pree-oh-RAH-toh] This doca is located next to the larger tar­ra­gona do in the southern part of Spain's catalonia region. Priorat, which gained do status in 1975, has only about 2,500 vineyard acres. In the 1980s and 1990s, a new group of producers, called the "Gratallops pioneers," transformed this region and put Priorat on the map when they began producing very high-quality wines that gained international fame. In the year 2000, Priorat was raised from a DO to a DOCa (denominación de origen calificada), Spain's top classification. Priorat is only the second DO (after the rioja doca) to be so honored. The area's mountainous region finds terraced vineyards clinging to steep hillsides. The climate produces low yields, which allows winemakers to create intense, full-flavored, full-bodied (see body) wines that are generally high in alcohol (from 13.5 percent to 18 percent). Most of the wines are red, made from Garnacha Tinta (grenache), Carinena (carignan), and a variant of Garnacha Tinta called Garnacha Peluda. A small amount of white wine is made from Garnacha Blanca (Grenache), macabeo and pedro ximénez. This area also produces fortified wines ranging from dry to sweet. Non-native grape varieties have been introduced into the area including cabernet sauvignon, chenin blanc, merlot and syrah.

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Wikipedia: Priorat
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Priorat
—  Comarca  —

Flag
Coat of arms
Country  Spain
Autonomous community  Catalonia
Province Tarragona
Capital Falset
Municipalities
List
Bellmunt del Priorat, La Bisbal de Falset, Cabacés, Capçanes, Cornudella de Montsant, Falset, La Figuera, Gratallops, Els Guiamets, Lloar, Margalef, Marçà, El Masroig, Molar, Morera de Montsant, Poboleda, Porrera, Pradell de la Teixeta, Siurana, La Torre de Fontaubella, Torroja del Priorat, Ulldemolins, La Vilella Alta, La Vilella Baixa
Area
 - Total 496.2 km2 (191.6 sq mi)
Population (2001)
 - Total 9,196
 - Density 18.5/km2 (48/sq mi)
 - Demonym Prioratí, prioratina
Time zone CET (UTC+1)
 - Summer (DST) CEST (UTC+2)
Postal code
Largest municipality Falset
For the Priorat wine region, see Priorat (DOQ).

Priorat is a comarca (county) in Catalonia, Spain. The central part of the comarca, "Priorat històric," produces the famous and prestigious wine of the Denominación de Origen Calificada Priorat. Wines from elsewhere in the comarca are denominated as Montsant. The area is also known for the production of hazelnuts.

Priorat had a steady loss of population during the 20th century, but has recently as of 2004 experienced a more prosperous economy, resulting in an end to this trend. In 2001, the population was 9,196, with only the capital (Falset) exceeding a population of 1,000.

Physical geography

Priorat has an area of 496 km² and is bordered by the River Ebro, and by the comarques of Baix Camp, les Garrigues, and Conca de Barberà. The region is mostly hilly, and in the extreme north of the comarca is the Montsant mountain range, rising to over 1000 m; the south is bordered by the Mola de Colldejou and the mountain ranges of Llebaria and Santa Marina.

The climate is continental: dry and hot in summer, cold in the winter.

Municipalities

Populations are from 2001.

  • Bellmunt del Priorat - pop. 310
  • La Bisbal de Falset - pop. 248
  • Cabacés - pop. 343
  • Capçanes - pop. 412
  • Cornudella de Montsant - pop. 859
  • Falset - pop. 2,471
  • La Figuera - pop. 124
  • Gratallops - pop. 224
  • Els Guiamets - pop. 304
  • Lloar - pop. 114
  • Margalef - pop. 133
  • Marçà - pop. 616
  • El Masroig - pop. 519
  • Molar - pop. 294
  • Morera de Montsant - pop. 148
  • Poboleda - pop. 347
  • Porrera - pop. 462
  • Pradell de la Teixeta - pop. 189
  • Siurana - pop. 167
  • La Torre de Fontaubella - pop. 133
  • Torroja del Priorat - pop. 142
  • Ulldemolins - pop. 495
  • La Vilella Alta - pop. 132
  • La Vilella Baixa - pop.177

External links

v • d • e
Comarques of Catalonia

Coordinates: 41°08′N 0°49′E / 41.133°N 0.817°E / 41.133; 0.817


This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer)

 
 
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priorate
Tarragona DO (wine-related term)
Denominación de Origen Calificada (DOCa) (wine-related term)

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Wine Lover's Companion. Wine Lover's Companion. Copyright © 2003 by Barron's Educational Series, Inc. All rights reserved.  Read more
Wikipedia. This article is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Priorat".  Read more

 
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