Historie
Created in August 2001, the Monsant DO is a new Catalan appellation of origin nailed in the judicial region of Priorat, which has been named after the most emblematic mountain located within it. Geographically it includes an area that encircles its quite famous neighbour DO. The capital of the Priorat region, Falset, has been included in the Montsant DO. Prior to the set up of the new appellation, this winemaking area was known as sub-region Falset within the DO Tarragona. As of the set up of the Priorat DO in the mid 1970’s, the winemakers encompassed in the sub-region effortlessly tried the inclusion of Priorat, a decision that was justified given that the two denominations basically share history, c matology, wine types and soils. Begin unable to reach an agreement, they have finally grouped in a common DO that consists of 1,700 hectares divided into three sub sectors (Alt and Baix Priorat and Ribera d’Ebre) and 16 municipalities amongst which stand out those of Falset, Marça, Capçanes, Masroig or Bisbal de Falset.

As in Priorat, the winemaking history of Montsant begins with the first travellers from the East who arrived and settled in the coasts of Tarragona, at the beginning of our age. The old Roman Tarraconensis got to produce wines that were very praised in the texts of Pliny the Elder and Silvius Italicus. The disintegration of the empire caused the Catalan winemaking zones to fragment, certainly leaving the areas of Montsant and Priorat quite isolated. During centuries the winemaking activity was limited to religious orders and had a subsistence scope, as the population and commerce centers gradually moved to other locations. This was so until in 1974 the FAO report proclaimed the virtues of the Priorat as winemaking area.

The Montsant DO differs from that of its neighbour in few things, although the detractors of their inclusion in Priorat argue a dissimilarity that is not trivial. While in Priorat the black slate grounds predominate, “Llicorella”, these are much scarcer in Montsant where loosed red sands prevail. The truth is that granite and slate rocks form the soils’ base. Otherwise, varietals, with predominance of red and white Garnacha and Cariñera, the scarce rain levels and low yields or the type of operation (small bodegas) are very similar. In any case Montsant had an entity of its own quite differentiated from the rest of the Tarragona DO. As in nearby Priorat the most interesting wines of Montsant are dry reds. These are very concentrated, boast great hue and large alcohol contents. Mediterranean and with a vocation of becoming exclusive. Also here, plantations of Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and Merlot are being carried out, combined with old Cariñera and Garnacha vines. Also interesting is the making of whites from Garnacha but, mainly of new natural sweet reds of red Garnacha, loaded with fruit and velvety tannins. The future of the region is guaranteed by prestigious names such as Rene Barbier Junior, one of the first entrepreneurs who disembarked in Priorat two decades ago and producer of Clos Mogador, in Priorat, and Laurono in Montsant. Others are Sara Perez of Mas Martinet, or the singer Joan Manuel Serrat, partner of the Venture Company Mas Perinet, which possesses a property of 350 hectares distributed between Priorat and Montsant and is currently building two wineries. A new Spanish wine reference for sterling quality.