Ritme Branco

Priorat is rightly regarded as one of the best regions for producing world-class red wines in Spain, but few people have had the chance to try one of their rare whites. This miniscule region is characterized by mountainous, terraced vineyards with distinctive black slate and quartz soils called llicorella. Though it's notoriously difficult to farm, requiring intensive manual labour, the combination of soil, climate, and elevation unique to Priorat provides conditions that are ideal for wines. The region's name hints at the important role that the Carthusian monks who settled in the area played in the development of grape cultivation.

Since the region's fame is based on their red wines, it's no surprise that their whites are produced in such small quantities and are largely unknown outside of Spain. Made from Garnacha Blanca, Ritme Cellers’ white Priorat is partially barrel-fermented before being aged on lees for 11 months. This adds weight and texture to the finished wine, while also contributing to the wine's ability to age. Fans of oak-aged Chardonnay or white wines from the Rhône Valley will find a lot to love in this complex, full-bodied white that should be served at a cool 14 ºC and enjoyed over the next 3-5 years.