Cellers Scala Dei, El Priorat

Surrounded by a landscape carpeted with vineyards, Scala is a lovely square with some old houses. The village is nestled in the heart of the Priorat, where life revolves around wine and olive oil. One of its oldest buildings is Cellers Scala Dei, where the monks used to live. Visiting the winery is a wonderful experience. Among barrels of French and American oak in a vaulted stone cellar whose walls are over a meter thick, Fernando (my guide) told me the story of the wines of the region. "There was a time," he said, "in the Priorat when it was considered that wine gave strength to those who drank it.