Priorat is a small Spanish mountainous wine region officially recognised with the highest quality status ‘DOQ’ or Denominació d’Origen Qualificada, located in the province of Tarragona, in the southwest of Catalonia.

Priorat’s vineyards sit on black slate and quartz soils called llicorella. This is a mountainous area with steep slopes, so the vines are cultivated on terraces and the grapes hand-harvested as the vineyards are often too steep and narrow for machine-harvesting. The climate is temperate and dry, with marked fluctuations in temperature between day and night. Summers are long, hot and dry while winters are cold. Yields are very low, due to the rocky nature of the soil that does not allow the accumulation of water, but which contributes to the wine’s intensity and characteristic minerality.

The same goes for Monsant, which lies west of Tarragona city and forms a ‘C’ shape that almost surrounds the prestigious Priorat region. Its name is derived from the Montsant massif (‘holy mountain’) that dominates the region’s landscape. Vines were first introduced to the area by the Romans thousands of years ago, and Catholic monks continued the viticultural tradition during the Middle Ages. By the 19th Century, wines from Montsant were receiving praise at universal exhibitions. Both Monsant and Priorat produce primarily powerful red wines with a garnet colour, a very intense aroma, a high degree of alcohol and a dense and rich flavour.

Wine tourists can find more than just fine wines and wineries to visit in Priorat and Montsant. There’s also a wide variety of landscapes, inviting visitors to explore and discover the area on the DOQ Priorat Wine Route, the DO Montsant Wine Route and the Olive Oil Route. And all year round there are a host of activities, events and traditional celebrations to delight wine lovers and connoisseurs.

The DO Penedès is the Designation of Origin with the longest history and wine tradition in Catalonia. More than 2,500 hectares of vineyards stretch along the territory between the sea and the mountains, halfway between Barcelona and Tarragona.

The soils, climate and the altitudes differentiate the DO Penedès into 10 terroirs, each marked by a unique character. The most prominent indigenous variety is Xarel·lo for white wines. Classic Penedès quality organic sparkling wines, are balanced and well-structured, a reflection of the grapes and the second fermentation in the bottle with a minimum ageing of 18 months and 100% Penedès.

Many of the nearly 300 wineries in Penedès open their doors to the public, offering different wine tours for all tastes and budgets.

Jumilla is a DO in the North East region. Called ‘the beauty’ by the Arabs, it is famous for its wines with Designation of Origin (D.O.), its gastronomy, its gardens and its Iberian, Roman and Medieval legacy. Jumilla is renowned for its old-vine Monastrell wines, whose depth and complexity and intense fruitiness convey the Mediterranean character of its land and history. Jumilla wines have been gaining recognition and accolades on the international stage.

Vinos de Madrid was created in 1990 and is one of the 94 designations of origin recognized in Spain. It is made up of four sub-zones: Arganda, Navalcarnero, San Martín de Valdeiglesias and El Molar. Currently, the DO is home to 45 wineries, most of them in the Arganda sub-area, and around 200 wine brands.

The wine region of Madrid boasts over 900 years of tradition, with its vineyards that are environmentally protected territories that for centuries served as exclusive suppliers of Madrid’s finest wines to a newly born capital with an insatiable thirst for wine that grew alongside its population. They have always maintained their place in the most traditional and faithful taverns and cellars in the capital of Spain.

Madrid’s wineries continue the legacy of several family generations, steadfast in their traditions, recently earning international awards for their quality and captivating the palates of wine lovers worldwide.

Ribera del Duero is one of Spain’s most successful and enduring wine-producing regions with its viticulture history dating back to Roman times and a Spanish Denominación de Origen located on the extensive, elevated northern plateau of the Iberian Peninsula which follows the Duero river for some 100km with more than 270 wineries on its north and south-sides, including small family bodegas going back many generations, alongside state-of-the-art, corporate-owned wineries.

Ribera del Duero is one of 11 quality wine regions, including Toro, within the autonomous region Castilla y León, and is characterised by mostly flat and gently undulating rocky terrain, formed during the Miocene period, consisting of layers of silty or clayey sand alternating with layers of limestone, marl and chalk. Toro’s highly regarded sub-region produces a diverse range of wines which have evolved as a result of factors like sun exposure, vineyard location, altitude, and winemaking preferences and are renowned worldwide for their quality and significance.

Ribera del Duero boasts some of Spain’s best known wineries (such as Bodegas Emilio Moro and Vega Sicilia) producing world-class wines, picturesque vineyards, and rich cultural heritage and a perfect destination for wine lovers and enthusiasts.

Both Ribera del Duero and Toro’s wineries are famous for their modern facilities, innovative winemaking techniques, and exceptional wines. Visitors can take guided wine tours, participate in wine tastings, and learn about the history and culture.