The wine tourism routes are designed for lovers of fine wine, allowing them to enjoy it in an unparalleled setting. You can find tours where wineries across Spain offer you the finest flavours.
The Cartoixa d’Scala Dei, founded in the 12th century, is the landmark and a must-visit in the region. The territory of the Priorat Designation of Origin (DO) is characterised by its slate soils, and its wines reflect the harsh climatic conditions and unique topography. The presence of monks until the mid-19th century fostered vine cultivation and the quality of a product that still enjoys international prestige today: the wines of the Priorat Designation of Origin.
One of the villages within the Designation of Origin is Bellmunt del Priorat, with a mining past that showcases remnants of an activity lasting centuries and shaping its character. Notable is the modernist building offering views of the mines and housing the former laboratory, the mining colony located within the village itself, and the visit to the Mines Museum, where you can descend and explore the first gallery 35 metres underground with a guide.
Following the road, we reach Lloar, an ancient thoroughfare between the Ebro and Tarragona that sheltered generations of independent travellers. Its rugged, distinctive streets and balconies overlook the Montsant River. A picturesque spot to linger is the Font Vella. We continue to Gratallops, one of the hubs of today’s thriving wine industry. Within its boundaries lies the second-tier Cooperative, encompassing the harvests of neighbouring small villages, along with several internationally renowned wineries.
The picturesque Ermita de la Consolació, midway between Gratallops and La Vilella Baixa, dominates the landscape.
Next, we find La Vilella Alta, a small village perched on a hill near Montsant (southern slope). The parish church houses an altarpiece from 1700 (currently under restoration). Continuing along the wine route, we reach the village of Scala Dei, once the convent’s administrative centre and, during the Carthusians’ time, the headquarters of the estate’s business affairs.
From here, the overseeing brother directed workers—monks or laymen—who tended to the wineries, flocks, and diverse crops. Today, it’s a charming corner with a primitive church surrounded by manor houses and wineries. The ruins of the Cartoixa d’Scala Dei are of great interest. An audiovisual presentation and a restored cell help visitors understand the local community’s way of life.
Continuing towards La Morera de Montsant, an ancient Saracen-origin village preserving a Romanesque portal in its parish church. The ruins of the old Cartoixa d’Scala Dei and the hamlet of the same name lie within its municipal boundaries.
We’ll then head to Porrera, a town encircled by almond and vine groves and one of the villages with the highest concentration of private wineries. Historic manor houses adorn its streets, many displaying 19th-century sundials—some of great interest, including the largest in Catalonia. Other highlights of the wine route are the Ermita de Sant Antoni Abad (1610) and the 18th-century parish church.
We’ll conclude this journey by passing through Torroja del Priorat, home to the Sant Miquel Regulatory Council. At the Joan Pàmies museum winery, you can admire a private collection of presses, antique winemaking tools, and various agricultural implements.
