Montsant

Montsant Wine Region

The Montsant (DO) Wine Region

The Spanish Wine region Montsant has made a significant leap over the last 10 years in terms of quality, and some of the best Montsant wines are now at same the level as the best wines of the neighbor wine region Priorat.

Location and climate

The DO Montsant is located in the Priorat region (Tarragona). It is composed of Baix Priorat, a part of Alt Priorat and several municipalities in the Ribera d'Ebre. In total there are 16 municipalities within Montsant DO: La Bisbal de Falset, Cabacés, Capçanes, Cornudella de Montsant, La Figuera, Els Guiamets, Marçá, Margalef, Els Masroig, Pradell de la Teixeta, La Torre de Fontaubella, Ulldemolins, Falset, El Molar, Darmós and La Serra d’Almos.

The climate is typically Mediterranean in Montsant: the area is surrounded by mountains and has significant temperature contrasts between day and night. These climatical conditions are ideal for the maturation of the grapes.

The soils are mainly of three types:

Grapes used

The folllowing grapes are the grapes permitted by the local authorities

The Grenache and Carignan are native varieties of Montsant and are the essence of the wine production in Montsant.

Whites grapes varieties: Chardonnay, Garnacha Blanca (White Grenache), Macabeo, Moscatel de grano pequeño (small grain), Pansal, Parellada.

Reds grapes varieties: Cabernet sauvignon, Carignan (Cariñena), Grenache (Garnatxa), Garnacha peluda, Merlot, Monastrell, Picapoll, Syrah, Tempranillo and Mazuela.

Characteristics of the wines from Montsant (DO)

White wines: the wines are silky. Wines made from Garnacha Blanca in general have body, elegant aromas with hints of Mediterranean scrub grass and subtleness. The wines made with Macabeo are lighter, fresh and fruitier.

Rosé wines: The rosé wines are gaining presence in the D.O. Montsant. They are usually made with Garnacha (grenache) and Syrah varieties. The palate is fruity, with presence of berries.

Red wines: The red wines are the most distinctive wines from Montsant (DO). They have a dark red color, and are made from native grape varieties like Grenache (Garnatxa) and Carignan (carinyena), although these are many times mixed with international grape typesvarieties. The red wines are full bodied fruity wines. Due to the characteristics of the soils in Montsant (llicorella), the wines get a strong mineral note.

Traditional wines: (sweet) liquor wines made primarily of Grenache. The palate is oily, and the aromas and flavors have raisins and fruit notes.

Important wineries in DO Montsant

Details and numbers

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