Mas Alta is a winery in la Vilella Alta, in the heart of Priorat, founded in 1999 by two Belgian families, the Lambrechts and the Vanhouttes, with technical guidance from French oenologist Michel Tardieu. From the start they have grown the native Garnacha and Cariñena varieties, which are especially well suited to Priorat's llicorella slate soils.
The winery practices environmentally mindful viticulture -what they call "viticultura amigable"- seeking a balance between human intervention and interaction with nature; since 2009 all its vineyards have held CCPAE organic certification, and vines stop being irrigated once they pass two years of age.
Its range of wines spans from the more accessible Els Pics to the premium cuvée La Creu Alta, along with La Basseta, Cirerets and Artigas, plus whites such as Solana Alta, Els Pics Blanc and Artigas Blanc. The winery can be visited Tuesday to Saturday, 10am-6pm, at carretera T-702, km 16.8.
Imatge: Lohen11 - Josep Renalias · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Sources: bodegasmasalta.com