The Cesca Vicent estate lies in the Priorat, a region located in Southern Catalonia, in the central part of Tarragona province (see Figure 1). This area, with its rich wine-growing tradition, is included under the Priorat Qualified Denomination of Origin, created in 1954. Located in the municipal district of El Lloar, the estate is divided by a pine forest into two separate plots, Mas Cremat, more to the south and Maria Prunera, more to the north. The estate’s average altitude is 200 m above sea level, reaching 240 m at the highest point of Maria Prunera and descending to 160 m at the level of the river which flows through Mas Cremat. Both form part of the Montsant River basin, thanks to a number of ravines on the right bank of the river (such as the Guiamet and Merla). The estate is on a slope with terraces at angles of over 10% (even 48% in some cultivated areas), except in the lower fluvial zone of the Montsant River. For the most part it looks in a southeasterly direction.

The Cesca Vicent vineyard is, then, an estate of approximately 16.8 hectares, 13.2 of which are given over to wine grapes. The red varieties are Cariñena, Garnacha, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and Merlot and its white varieties are represented by white Garnacha. The purpose is the production of grapes for quality wines and winemaking within a context of environmental respect. The property’s most outstanding advantage is that it is endowed with different types of soils and microclimates that provide important differentiating elements. This makes it possible to develop a top quality product with rich calibre and personality.

In 2006 a detailed study was carried out of the soil on the Cesca Vicent estate which evaluated the suitability of each soil type to the different grape varieties that characterise the Priorat Qualified Denomination of Origin. To this end, some 30 soil boring tests were performed, to a depth of approximately 2 m, obtaining over 90 samples.

This study analysed the different soil types and showed their distribution over the landscape by means of a soil map. It investigated aspects related to the management and fertility of these soils for the vine. Furthermore it analysed complex variables (mineralisation, moisture and so on) with reference to the vigour passed from the soil to the vine, precocity of the different units and potential quality of the grape.