The Monastery of Scala Dei was founded in 1194, and the first wines were produced in 1263. The Monks abandoned the monastery in the 19th century when it was raided by the Prioratines, but it was re-acquired a decade later. Scala Dei is the birthplace of the Priorat DO, and, re-founded in 1974, launched the first modern Priorat wines on the market. Today, the winery still ages its wines in the monks' 17th century cellar.