Montsant

Tucked into the rugged Serra de Montsant range in southern Catalonia, DO Montsant forms a horseshoe around its more famous neighbor Priorat and shares much of its geography, altitude, and old-vine heritage. The soils are a patchwork of clay, limestone, sand, and the celebrated llicorella (slate) that spills over from Priorat, and the climate is Mediterranean with cooling influence from the mountains. Garnacha and Cariñena from gnarled old bush vines are the stars, producing reds that match Priorat for depth but often show more freshness and approachability at a fraction of the price. A new generation of small, terroir-focused producers is exploring single-village and single-vineyard bottlings, making Montsant one of Spain's most exciting value regions for serious reds.