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Gratallops is the Priorat synthesis of wolves and wine. It has a special link with this wild animal (the municipal coat of arms represents two wolves scratching a tree) and has more than twenty wineries.
However, the origin of the name of Gratallops would not have to do with the fact that the wolves came here to scratch themselves (gratar, in Catalan, is to scratch), although it is true that this was an area of ??wolves.
Popular language could have confused two verbs at some point in history: the verb “glatir” (dogs -and wolves- emit high-pitched barks, howl) with the verb “gratify”.
However, the most likely origin would be from the pre-Indo-European, with roots that would refer to rock, ridge, and height or elevation of the terrain. It is not in vain that it is a municipal area, like many of Priorat, orographically complex, with a whole series of ravines all tributary to the River Montsant and the ridges that delimit its valleys.
Gratallops offers places to enjoy the landscape, such as the ascent to the hermitage of Consolació, Romanesque, from the 12th century, although modified over the centuries. It is located on top of a hill, surrounded by vineyards, with beautiful views.
Another of the pleasures is simply wandering the streets. On Calle Major is the Casa dels Frares, with a Renaissance doorway and stone arch. In the same alley is the Arc de Pedra, which crosses the Calle Major from side to side, built with reddish stone.
The parish church of Sant Llorenç, which we can also see in this report in Las Fotos de los Lectores de La Vanguardia, is from the 18th century, neoclassical, with three naves, a dome choir and a bell tower.
The culture of wine is part of the DNA of Priorat and, of course, also of Gratallops, where we find the Agricultural Cooperative, founded in 1917.
This cooperative brings together the production of several neighboring towns, Lloar, Vilella Baixa and Vilella Alta. It can be visited, along with other wineries in the town.