Montsant VS Priorat, Dido and Els Pics

The DO Montsant and DOQ Priorat are two neighbouring appellations with many factors in common, but also with clearly different characters. Montsant is often linked to rounded and pleasant wines, whereas Priorat usually brings to mind power and minerality. Choosing between the two is no easy task. The selection of wines we offer today include two representative wines from each appellation. There is no need to come down in favour of one of the appellations, when you can get double the enjoyment by trying excellent wines from both sides of the same region.

Granite, slate or chalky clay at different altitudes and orientations but, in essence, they all share the same character of the province of Priorat where both appellations rub shoulders. Four great wines which give a clear and quick insight into the creative innovation taking place in winemaking in southern Catalonia.

<The other pair we suggest to compare the Montsant and Priorat profiles starts with Dido la Universal, a wine from the magical hands of Sara Pérez and René Barbier. A Montsant wine aiming for the soothing pleasure of Grenache but embellished with juicy Syrah and elegant tannins from Carignan, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Merlot. A combination of ageing in wood and cement emphasizes the natural freshness of the fruit. In comparison, our recommendation from Priorat, Els Pics by Bodegas Mas Alta, is basically a Grenache wine with small quantities of French varieties. It is also partially aged in cement and the result is a very balanced wine which expresses the warmth of the Priorat terroir without relinquishing its unquestionable fineness.