El Tribut de Scala Dei

It is well known fact that in the 1980s a group of “hippies”, the renowned René Barbier, Carles Pastrana, Josep Lluis Pérez, Daphne Glorian and Álvaro Pérez, arrived in the forgotten Priorat to breathe new life into it and make great wines. It is an unforgettable success story that has changed the area forever. However, much earlier, in 1973 Cellers Scala Dei was the first winery dedicated to selling bottled wines and the founder of the DOQ Priorat. A direct descendent of the tradition of the Carthusian monks who settled in the Carthusian monastery of Santa María de Escaladei in the 12th century and began cultivating vines in the area, this winery has now been renovated by the Codorníu Group who make wines that showcase how they have gone back to the origins.

The ancient writings found in the mythical Carthusian monastery confirm that the monks had a very good understanding of vine cultivation and winemaking. They knew the best soils for each variety, carried out oenological studies and even had a marketing strategy to sell their wine. Based on this ancient tradition, the new Scala Dei wines and their winemaker Ricard Rofes have gone back to the beginning, vinifying with the stems, using large containers for aging and creating fresher wines that enhance the fruity aromas and terroir. This is clear to see in El Tribut de Scala Dei, a red wine made with the Garnacha Tinta, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah varieties from 15-30 year old vines planted in the characteristic “llicorella” slate soils of Priorat. Vinification takes place in small open tanks of 7000 kg, in groups of evenly ripe clusters and fermenting with native yeasts. The skins stay in contact with the must for between 12 and 16 days and finally, the wine spends a few months in stainless steel tanks until bottling.

As its name suggests, El Tribut de Scala Dei (The Scala Dei Tribute), is a tribute to the
Priorat lands. A look back into the past that highlights the freshness, fruit and simplicity that have made this legendary wine region of Catalonia so famous.