Cellers de Scala Dei is regarded as the oldest winery in Priorat, heir to the winemaking tradition introduced by Carthusian monks: after the Cartoixa d'Escaladei monastery was founded in 1194, the community received jurisdiction over nearby villages including la Morera, Gratallops, Torroja, Porrera, Poboleda and Vilella Alta, and around 1263 planted the region's first vines there.
It was at this same site that, in 1878, the first bottled Priorat wine was produced, an event that symbolically marks the origin of the appellation. The winery today farms high-altitude vineyards at the foot of the Montsant mountain range, with Grenache as its emblematic variety, and still preserves a 17th-century cellar.
Visitors can choose among several tasting experiences, from a 90-minute introductory visit with a tasting of four wines, to Grenache-focused tastings or half-day vineyard outings that include breakfast and lunch.
Imatge: EliziR · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Sources: cellersdescaladei.com · cellersdescaladei.com · en.wikipedia.org