The AO Montsant includes the wines produced in the towns Appl of Falset, El Molar, El Masroig, Capçanes, Marįā, Guiamets, La Torre de Fontaubella, Pradell de la Teixeta, La Figuera, Cabacés, Margalef, La Bisbal de Falset, Ulldemolins, Cornudella de Montsant and other nearby towns in Ribera d’Ebre county, such as La Serra d’Almós and Darmós.
In general terms, the towns of the current administrative county near Falset, and those of the rest of the Siurana River basin that were included as of the county division conducted by the Catalan Government in the 1930’s during the period of the second Spanish Republic, belong to this AO. This meant expanding the name of Priorat to municipalities beyond the historic Priorat monasterial lands. This furthered the trend begun around the turn of the 20th century (the first official reference to the name of Priorat, applied to the entire Siurana River Basin, is from 1896).
The history as an Appellation of Origin began effectively in 1972 within the AO Tarragona, with the name of Falset Sub-zone, encompassing different cooperatives of the area. It came into being as a new independent AO in November 2001. High quality wines are made in the AO Montsant region, from the Jewish “kosher” to Capçanes and other highly appreciated fortified wines, mistellas (liquor made of must and alcohol), crianza wines, etc.
The headquarters of the AO Montsant Regulatory board is in Falset, which is the county seat.
The cultivated area totals 1,900 ha.
The main grape varieties are the same as those of the QAO Priorat, although ull de llebre, monastrell, parellada, chardonay, etc. are also allowed.
|
