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Priorato is located in the district (comarca) of El Priorat, in central southern Tarragona, an area characterised by its black slate soils. The highest peaks of the mountains, divided by the valleys of the Siurana and Montsant Rivers, reach 1,124 metres. The vineyards are scattered among eleven valley towns, and are terraced into the sides of the mountains or planted on the steep slopes themselves, which rise from 100-700 metres.
The area is of volcanic origin, which gives its soils unique features. The bedrock, called llicorella, consists of reddish and black slate with small particles of mica – quartzite – that reflect and conserve the heat. The topsoil, made up of decayed slate and mica, is 50 cm thick, causing the roots of the vines to plunge deep into the bedrock in search of rainwater, nutrients and trace minerals.
These unique properties contribute to the quality of the wine as well as anchoring the vines during the heavy rain and winds typical in the area. Even where altitudes rise to 700 metres in the highland vineyards around La Morera de Montsant, the subsoils help to give wines of exceptional quality.
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