Montsacer

Arbequina olive oil from Priorat

Montsacer is the extra-virgin olive oil brand of Cooperativa Agrícola i Secció de Crèdit La Bisbal de Montsant, SCCL, based in La Bisbal de Montsant in Tarragona's Priorat region. The cooperative produces and sells Arbequina extra-virgin olive oil under the Siurana Protected Designation of Origin (PDO).

Oil and production

Montsacer oil is made by mechanically cold-pressing freshly harvested olives, a process the cooperative says preserves their nutritional qualities. Arbequina olives are well suited to the area's climate and terrain. The oil has a maximum acidity of 0.3°; with a mild, fruity, aromatic profile. The cooperative recommends tasting it uncooked to appreciate its character, though it can also add flavor in cooking.

Store and sizes

The cooperative sells extra-virgin olive oil in several sizes, with these prices listed in its online store:

• 5-liter jug: €37.00
• Three 5-liter jugs: €111.00
• 2-liter jug: €17.00
• Six 2-liter jugs: €97.80
• 1-liter bottle: €8.90
• 750-milliliter bottle: €9.00
• 250-milliliter bottle: €5.00
• 750-milliliter gift pack: €10.40
• Two 750-milliliter bottles: €19.00
• Two 750-milliliter bottles and 400 grams of Arbequina olives: €22.00

History and landscape

Cooperativa Agrícola de la Bisbal de Montsant was founded in 1951, when village residents purchased Molí del Fuster, one of five mills operating at the time. The cooperative is now in the center of La Bisbal de Montsant, a small Priorat municipality 372 meters above sea level, near Ribera d'Ebre and Les Garrigues. The name Montsacer comes from the Latin place-name for the Montsant River, which drains the area and gives its name to the mountain range sheltering the village.

Recognition and public support

The cooperative received LEADER funding in 2019 to renovate a tasting room and retail point through Catalonia's 2014–2020 Rural Development Program, co-funded by the Generalitat de Catalunya. Direct sales by Catalan farmers are also covered by Decree 24/2013, which provides a way to identify producers selling directly to the public.

Location and contact

Address: Carrer La Palma, 23, 43372 La Bisbal de Montsant, Priorat, Tarragona. Phone: +34 977 819 034. WhatsApp: 699 097 025. Email: montsacer@montsacer.com. The cooperative is on Facebook and Instagram.