Priorat wine appellation expects an excellent harvest due to a very hot and dry August

Falset (ACN). According to the President of the Regulatory Council of the internationally renowned Catalan wine appellation of Priorat, there will be an excellent grape harvest this summer as there have been no major setbacks affecting the growth of the grapes. The appellation, located in south-west Catalonia, is one of only two wine producing regions in Spain that have been awarded with a Denominació d’Origen Qualificada status, the highest category of Spanish wines. Priorat wines are typically powerful and full-bodied and grapes are grown in an exceptional terroir made up of llicorela with layers of slate and quartz. The hot and dry weather during August has meant that the maturation process has been very favourable in terms of colour and there is a good balance between alcohol and acidity levels. The President of the Regulatory Council of Priorat, Toni Alcover, expects there to be a high quality harvest this year with a quantity that will exceed 5.5 million kilograms.

This year there have been sharp contrasts in weather conditions in the Priorat region. While spring saw a large amount of rain, and May and June had lower temperatures than normal, so far summer has been very hot and dry. Up until now pests have had little impact on the grapes. There has been an almost non existent amount of mildew and a very low activity of grape worms, which has ensured a very healthy harvest of grapes. Furthermore, the plants have grown up without an excess of vigour, but with enough leaf surface and the grapes were not bunched up.

Along with Garnacha the most prominent variety of vines planted in Priorat is the Cariñena. However, there has also been some success with international grapes such as Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah. Some of the notable producers in the region include: Clos de L’Obac, Clos Martinet, Clos Mogador and L’Ermita.