Request a Quote

Clos de l’Obac Winery Guide

Winery Overview

Clos de l’Obac Winery, or Costers del Siurana, is a renowned Priorat wine brand. Led by the visionary Carles Pastrana, this winery is situated in the picturesque wine village of Gratallops, adjacent to Rene Barbier’s Clos Mogador. Carles Pastrana is passionate about his wines and regarded as one of Spain’s most charismatic wine personalities. Alongside Alvaro Palacios, Rene Barbier, and Josep Lluis Perez, Carles Pastrana was among the first to recognize the immense potential of Priorat as a wine region in the 1980s. However, his family had been in the region since the 1970s, exploring old vines and experimenting with viticulture.

Inspired by the unique combination of topography, soil, climate, and a thousand-year-old winemaking tradition, the founding families embarked on a project to revive the spirit of the old Carthusian oenologists. They diligently reconstructed the steep, slatey terraces, cleared stones by hand, repaired walls, and built access paths. As a result, the vineyards were rejuvenated, particularly the old Garnacha, Tempranillo, and Cariñena vines, some of which were over fifty years old; additionally, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Syrah were introduced.

The inaugural vintage of Clos de l’Obac was in 1989, followed by Miserere in 1990 and Dolç de l’Obac in 1991. Wine professionals worldwide have since acknowledged the greatness of this Priorat wine family. The winery remains committed to producing the finest wines using exclusively their own grapes. Their continuous endeavor is to enhance their products, aiming for complexity, balance, harmony, and grace, which have garnered international acclaim.

The vineyards of Clos de l’Obac and their other brands, Miserere, Kyrie, and the elixir sweet red Dolç de l’Obac, are spread across various parcels. Notably, the expansive Mas d’En Bruno estate, featuring a 13th-century villa, holds one of the largest parcels and has been home to working vineyards for centuries. The vineyards thrive in this challenging landscape due to fertile soil and a microclimate created by the impressive Montsant mountains. Rising 1,166 meters high, these mountains act as a natural barrier, controlling the temperature in the area and protecting it from harsh weather from the north. The interplay of these elements, including the climate, mountains, and slate soil, plays a crucial role in imparting the distinctive character to Priorat wine. The winery in Gratallops is a small, intimate space boasting a delightful tasting room for visitors to enjoy. Carlos is usually around to share a story 0r two, washed down with a glass of his finest.

Priorat Wine Tour

Priorat Wine Tour

Discover the ultimate wine experience for connoisseurs in Priorat. Savor sultry reds amidst pristine scenery on a wine tour like no other. Book now!

View Priorat tour

Further Reading

Author

Avatar photo

James lawrence

With a passion for food & drink that verges on the obsessive, wine writer James Lawrence has traveled the world in search of the perfect tipple. To date, nothing has surpassed the 1952 R. Lopez de Heredia Vina Tondonia Rioja Reserva, tasted in the cobweb-filled cellars with owner María José. Meanwhile, James has been writing for a wide variety of publications for over 12 years, including Telegraph, Decanter, Harpers, The Drinks Business, and Wine Business International. He lives in South Wales and returns to his former university city, Bilbao, as much as possible.

Read more

Private wine travel experts, recommended by leading travel publications

  • National Geographic
  • Condé Nast Traveler
  • Travel + Leisure
  • Frommer's
  • Forbes Travel Guide