Far from the crowded routes and sheltered by the imposing cliffs of the Montsant and Llaberia mountain ranges, the Priorat region presents a rugged landscape of sculpted hills and an agroforestry mosaic where vineyards, centuries-old olive trees, almond trees and hazelnut trees coexist. This space is shared by two designations of origin, each with its own identity: the legendary DOQ Priorat (the only Qualified Designation of Origin in Catalonia) and DO Montsant, the consolidated and acclaimed revelation of the global wine scene. Exploring the DOQ Priorat / DO Montsant Wine Route: one region, two DOs means delving into the soul of wine, in a territory of diverse soils, old Grenache and Carignan vines, profound silence and a light that seems made of concentrated time. Come discover and enjoy it. An ancient history The history of wine in the Priorat region is ancient: Phoenicians and Romans were already drawn to it, but the great leap forward came courtesy of the Carthusian monks who founded the Escaladei Charterhouse in the twelfth century, the first on the Iberian Peninsula. According to legend, a shepherd dreamed of angels ascending and descending from heaven on a ladder resting against a monumental pine tree; the monastery was built on that very spot. They expanded the cultivation of vines. A silent walk through the monumental complex of the Escaladei Charterhouse is a highly emotional journey, discovering how the monastic wisdom of the Middle Ages established the rules of these lands. In the early twentieth century, following the ravages of phylloxera, the resilience and commitment of the farmers were channelled through cooperativism, giving rise to buildings that today are veritable monuments to the country’s architectural history: the “Cathedrals of Wine”. Designed by Cèsar Martinell (an architect and direct disciple of Gaudí), outstanding architectural visits such as those to the Falset Marçà Cooperative and the Cornudella de Montsant Cooperative show how Modernisme adapted its parabolic arches to the technical needs of winemaking. In the late 1980s, a new wave of winegrowers committed to the renewal of a territory that had been practically abandoned, ultimately positioning the region as a producer of great wines.