The vines are distributed at altitudes ranging from 175 to 700 meters above sea level. The vineyards are steep, planted along slopes with over 15% incline in many cases. Recently, terraced replantings have been carried out to facilitate a certain mechanization of the growing process, although the harvest and most other processes are still done by hand. A special trait of the winegrowing in Priorat is the type of soil: Priorat wines take their unequalled quality and the originality that distinguishes them from the special geological characteristics of the soil where the vines grow. It contains slates from the carboniferous period, from 260-340 million years ago, which often alternate with quartzite banks. The fragmentation of these “llicorelles” shale soils produces vast quantities of small stones that make it possible to protect the soil from erosion and prevent deep penetration of vine roots. The soil is slightly acidic, with a low organic material content.