Zodiac signs and tastings in Porrera

Porrera: one of many hidden gems in the Priorat region, waiting to be polished. 400-odd inhabitants. The village´s fame to glory are its sundials, most of which date back to 1840-1880. A symbol also of former days of prosperity. Up to the 19th century this and many other small Priorat villages were relatively rich communities. After the great wine blight (the phylloxera epidemic) in the early years of the 20th century and decades of absolute neglect and depopulation, a little bit of this glamour seems to be returning now, with the production of wine (DO Priorat) - the village has 18 different, small wine-producers, some like Trosset de Porrera producing only a few hundred of bottles a year -, olive oil (DOP Siurana) and hazelnuts (DO Avellana de Reus). Everything small-scale, labour-intensive, respectful of the environment and harvested by locals. A bit of prosperity is now also flooding back thanks to an emerging rural and enogastronomical tourism. A story of wine, olive oil and hazelnuts: food for thought...and food to be savoured rather than consumed. This is an excellent interview with Lluís Llach - Catalan singer-songwriter, soixante-huitard and wine-grower in Porrera - about the village and its wine tradition: www.uv.es/metode/anuario2001/75_2001.html