Buzz-Worthy: Spain’s DO Montsant

After a few days visiting fourteen unique wineries in Montsant, a Spanish Denominación de Origen (DO), I understand why this wine region is buzz-worthy. The people, the food, the villages, the landscape, and (oh yes!) the wines have left a lasting impression in my never-ending journey to explore regions that are new and exciting.

Located in the province of Tarragona, a mere hour and a half drive from Barcelona, Montsant is named after the striking Montsant mountains visible in the distance. Formerly known as the “Falset subzone of Tarragona”, it was created as a separate DO in the early 2000s. By 2002, wines were sold as “Montsant” instead of “Tarragona”. Since that time, 65 member wineries and private labels in six sub-zones have worked diligently to carve out a distinct niche in the wine world. Yet, how do they effectively market their wines when those from the more recognized Priorat are a limestone’s throw away? Quality Montsant wines and high standards of winemaking aside, how can consumers learn more about Montsant and its wines so that a bottle (or twelve) will be on the table, then enjoyed in the glass?

 

On it! Cue a group of fourteen wine writers from the United States and wine educators from the Wine Scholar Guild and Napa Valley Wine Academy (see list of all participants below) who were invited to participate in an intense three-day press trip to Montsant, fully paid by the DO Montsant. Our mission? Learn about the wines, talk with and have questions for the winery owners or winemakers, explore regional food and wine pairings, soak up every moment…and share our thoughts.

In our own style, each of us is doing just that. We’re home now and formatting our articles. During the trip, however, we shared photos, captions, and sound bites across a variety of social media channels (Instagram, Facebook, Twitter…) using the hashtag #DrinkMontsant. Check out our endeavors and see why so many of us have already visited our local wine shop and purchased more than a few wines from Montsant – and why you should, too.

 

 

The Wines of DO Montsant

As we traveled from the airport in Barcelona to the Hotel Sport in the small town of Falset, I was struck with the area’s diverse terrain. From the distance I had a glimpse of the Mediterranean Sea, only 15 or so miles from Montsant. I noted rolling hills, mountains on the horizon, and the Ebro River that flows through the region. This landscape helps cool the 4700 acres of vineyards in the evening after the hot and sunny Mediterranean climate during the day encourages vines to flourish.

Our guide on the bus explained that soil types in the region range from calcareous or limestone-based soils (also known as “panal” in the area) to reddish soils high in clay content to granitic soils to those of slate (known locally as “lllicorella”). Each of the six sub-zones in DO Montsant has a prevailing soil type, yet other soils are present. I was enthralled and looked forward to tasting the wines that would, most assuredly, reflect their sense of place, a region that has been producing wine since the days of the Roman Empire.

After unpacking our bags, our hungry and thirsty group gathered for a lunch in the hotel’s restaurant. Shared plates of fresh salad with ripe tomatoes and shaved manchego cheese, a charcuterie platter, and a walnut, berry, pomegranate, beets, and greens salad were a tasty beginning to what followed: tender and juicy rack of pork with a savory sauce and shallots, then a luscious pudding dessert. Lunch was a perfect setting for our group to know each other better and, of course, to taste a few wines that paired so well with each dish. This was just the beginning of food and wine pairing nirvana. (Click here for more food and wine pairings we experienced.)

 

 

The DO Montsant is allowed to produce ten varieties of red grapes, yet Garnatxa Negra (Red Grenache) and Carinyena (Carignan) predominate. Others include the recently introduced varieties of Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, and Merlot that have adapted well to the region’s soil. Also allowed are six grape varieties that produce white wines. Garnatxa Blanca (White Grenache) and Macabeu (Viura), the most important, exude elegance and a complexity that I found delightfully refreshing throughout the visit. All of the varieties thrive in the sunny, hot and dry conditions and are as sophisticated and expressive as they are delectable with a variety of traditional dishes.

During the three days, we visited (and tasted plenty of wines from) large cooperatives that produce wines from grapes purchased from local growers, a winery that crafts kosher wines exported throughout the world, and a spate of small wineries operated by families who, by staying or returning to the land, are honoring the winemaking legacy of their parents and grandparents.

Some of my most memorable wines that first day? I found plenty of elements to appreciate in each sip of a single vineyard 100% Carinyena in Masroig 0024/2668.2015 from Celler Masroig or a flavorful single vineyard rosé
of Syrah, Coca I Fito Rosa, from Coca I Foto. Then again, the blend of Garnatxa Negra, Carinyena, and Tempranillo in Cairats 2015 from Cellar Cairats was fresh and structured and the young, lipsmacking blend of Garnatxa Negra and Merlot in Joana 2017 from Cellers Sant Rafel was impressive. Obviously I sipped many more wines of note and anticipated more discoveries to follow.

 

My subsequent posts will feature more about the wines tasted, profiles of a few of my favorite wineries, and suggest traditional recipes for pairing. In the meantime, please follow the links to the sites of the aforementioned wineries and the DO Montsant website for more information.

Buzz-worthy? Absolutely. Besides the facts that the wines I tasted boast quality, have the ability to be incredibly food friendly, and reflect distinctive legacies of history and family, it’s time for us to discover and explore a new wine region of the world.

Cheers to that! ~ Cindy

Please check out the sites of the following participants who are posting their articles about the DO Montsant, too.

Ward Kadel: drXeNo / Vinopanion

James Melendez: James the Wine Guy

Frank Morgan: Drink What U Like

Christina Portz: Just the Bottle

Joe Power and Amy Corron Power: Another Wine Blog

Joe Roberts: 1 Wine Dude

Becca Yeamans-Irwin: The Academic Wino

Instructors from the Napa Valley Wine Academy and MW Students/Candidates