The priorat wine region is located southwest of Barcelona in the Tarragona province. It is one of only two wine regions in Spain with a D.O.Q., the highest category in the Spanish wine law & classification system. Priorat is famous for its full bodied reds which are sought out by wine connoisseurs and collectors worldwide. The reds are very concentrated with deep structure, unique, powerful and easily some of the most expressive wines on offer in Spain. The vines grow out of black and red slate of volcanic origin on steep terraced slopes, giving a special mineral quality to the grapes unlike anywhere else in the world. The setting couldn't be more beautiful; mountains and steep canyons lead to small villages blessed with incredible views of the cultivated hillsides. It all adds to an experience of entering a place that has changed little since it first started producing wine under the Carthusian monastic order in the 11th century. Now what is left of the Monestary has become a museum that provides great background information of the area. Our tour consists of several visits to higher end wineries where we sample, one of which hosts us for lunch with a carefully paired tasting menu. Outdoor enthusiast will love the hiking options that take you to various wineries and rural farms, small shrines in the mountainside and along the steep slopes of the sierra de Montsant. We run this excursion from Barcelona in a day, however we feel it is also worthy even of an overnight stay to explore more of the beautiful surroundings. We can easily customize this for you and provide recommendations.