 Spanish Dessert Wines
- Silky Sweeties
Priorat and Montsant
The Catalan wine region of Priorat is said by some of the most famed wine periodicals and journalists to be the most exciting wine region in the world. This mountainous Mediterranean wine region, about 2 hours south of Barcelona, was firmly put on the map with winemakers such as Alvaro Palacios and Rene Barbier, whose wines have since become some of the most expensive in Europe. Priorat is mainly known for its blockbuster dry red wines, and increasingly its highly alcoholic whites. However, some wineries in the area and nearby in the adjoining wine region of Montsant, have had huge success with their red dessert wines. These sweeties differ from Sherry and Montilla, as the grapes used are red rather than white. The main grapes used for these dessert wines are Garnacha and Cariñena, and the results have been quite impressive. The best wineries in Priorat for sweeties at the moment are Odysseus and Costers del Siurana (whose Dolç de l’Obac is out of this world). Montsant’s best sweet wine producer would have to be Capçanes, who first became famous for their Kosher “Flor de Primavera” (Spring Flower) dry red wine. Both of these regions, Priorat and Montsant, are extremely interesting and innovative.
Best Priorat and Montsant dessert wines include:
Mistela Molt Vella del Masroig Vino de Licor- 100% Cariñena (Carignan). Made in the Co-op of the village of Masroig, this sweetie is gorgeous and pairs magically with chocolate.
Capçanes Pansal del Calás Vino de Lugar- 60% Garnacha (Grenache), 40% Cariñena (Carignan). Capçanes is considered to be the best producer of Montsant wines and this sweetie is lovely, serve with sweet almonds!
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