Alvaro Palacios

Álvaro Palacios is one of the most influential figures in modern Spanish viticulture and is known for his expressive, terroir-driven wines from Priorat, Bierzo, and Rioja. After training in Bordeaux, including at Château Pétrus, he returned to Spain and revolutionized Priorat in the 1990s with his legendary L'Ermita , one of Spain's most iconic wines.

His vineyards in Priorat are situated on extremely steep terraces with the typical Llicorella slate soil, which gives the wines a distinctive minerality. The focus is on old Garnacha vines, often over 100 years old, which produce low yields and produce highly concentrated, profound wines. Along with L'Ermita, Finca Dofí and Les Terrasses represent the precise and elegant style of the house.

In Bierzo, he led the renaissance of the Mencía grape variety with Descendientes de J. Palacios . This wine produces wines with cool fruit, fine tannins, and great elegance, most notably La Faraona , one of the finest wines in northern Spain.

Vinification is carried out using natural cultivation methods, selective hand-harvesting, and minimal intervention in the cellar. Depending on the wine and region, whole-bunch fermentation, concrete tanks, and a nuanced use of oak are used. The wines are profound, structured, and possess an exceptional balance between concentration and finesse.

With his uncompromising vision, Álvaro Palacios has redefined the Spanish understanding of wine and his wines impressively demonstrate the diversity and uniqueness of Spanish terroirs.