Thus, the Carthusians established themselves at the foot of the Montsant in 1194. The Carthusian tradition of elaborating liqueurs, the religious use of wine, and the rapid repopulation of the area gave the Priorat Region of the day a major boost through vinegrowing. Numerous establishments and farms, the core of many of today’s villages, came into being.
The monks worked to promote planting, improvement in growing techniques and to make wine that would soon receive wide renown.

The Carthusian monastery had direct jurisdiction, and exercised the exclusive dominion over seven villages of the current county: Poboleda, Porrera, Gratallops, Torroja del Priorat, La Vilella Alta, Bellmunt del Priorat, and La Morera de Montsant with the Conreria de Scala Dei, which make up what is still known as “Historic Priorat”, set in the heart of the county.

The Carthusian jurisdiction was approved and expanded by express order of King Jaume I in 1218.

The county takes its name from the prior of the monastery, whose lands of 3,000 ha would remain under the power of the church past the turn of the 19th century, when the “Mendizàbal seizure” of church property took place in 1835. This meant the confiscation and redistribution of its lands, as well as the destruction of most Scala Dei Monastery buildings.

The northernmost part of today’s county was divided in the middle ages between the Cabacés Barony and the Prades County, and the southern part was divvied between the Entença and Escornalbou Baronies.

The 13th and 14th centuries were times of growth and consolidation for the feudal lords, expanding their croplands, very especially, the vineyards. As of the second half of the 14th century, strong ties with the lands that make up present-day Italy engendered knowledge and product exchange. From this region came the grape variety – garnacha – and techniques to perfect enological science, especially at the monastery. The special characteristics that Priorat lands gave to its wines were slowly being discovered.

The notoriety and influence of the Carthusians grew. Even King Felipe II de las Españas, in addition to confirming their graces and privileges, personally visited the Monastery for Easter in 1561, staying there with his entire entourage, attending conventual mass and even eating at the same table with the monks as a sign of royal esteem and consideration.