Mas d’en Blei, Clos Martina ’16

Where: Priorat, Spain

Grape: Grenache Blanc (84%), Pedro Ximenez (10%), Pansal

This organic dry white wine from Spain is a real surprise. Made in Priorat, our expectation was that this would be a red wine - the tiny region in north-east Spain is known for its full-bodied, dusty reds, yet this is a white. The surprises continue with the aromas and taste - just like a Priorat Red, this is rich and structured, with complex notes of dried fruit, flint, toast and...smoked bacon (think bacon frazzles). This will be fantastic with Christmas Lunch.

A little something we think you should know: Priorat is a small mountainous region located in southern Catalonia. The Carthusian Monks established the Priory of Scala Dei in the 12th century, and introduced viticulture to the region. King Alfonso I had sent 2 knights to search Catalonia for the ideal place to build the monastery. When they arrived and stood at the foot of the Montsant mountains, enraptured by their beauty, a shepherd approached and explained that a ladder would sometimes appear leaning on the highest pine tree and angels would climb + descent it - the stairway of God (Scala Dei). Knights reported this to the King who offered the area to the Carthusians for their monastery - they build the altar of the temple on the site where the tree of the legend had stood

Like the sound of this? Try this Spanish white wine from the south of Spain - less full bodied than this, it has similarly complex notes.

Want to know more about Priorat?  This is an interesting article about the region