Alvaro Palacios
Alvaro Palacios was born into a wine family. From an early age, he roamed through the cellars of Bodega Palacios Remondo, his parents' winery in the heart of Rioja. After a course in oenology in France and an internship at the renowned Château Pétrus, Alvaro decided not to return to his birthplace. He chose instead to discover the then little known Priorat. In 1989, he bought his very first vineyard, called Finca Dofi. He now also produces wines in Bierzo (Northwestern Spain) and has been in charge of Palacios Remondo ever since his parents passed away.
The vineyards are mainly planted with Garnache and Cariñena, but you will also find Macabeo, Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon there. This region is known for its unique Llicorella soil. This type of soil consists of slate with quartz and mica, and gives Priorat wines its typical character. In order to bring this out as much as possible, all vineyards are cultivated observing organic regulations. According to Alvaro, this is how the natural character of the grape is well preserved.
The showpiece of the winery is L'Ermita. With this wine, Alvaro put himself on the map in no time and L'Ermita was quickly regarded as one of the best wines in the world. The Garnacha vines used for this wine are more than 60 (!) years old. The advanced age generates grape bunches of excellent quality. The wine is aged in oak barrels for a minimum of 16 months. The result is a very complex wine that brings freshness and power together nicely. Other beautiful cuvées are: Les Aubaguetes, Gratallops and Descendientes de J. Palacios.
L'Ermita is the very first wine in Priorat to receive "Gran Viña Clasificada" status according to the region’s new classification. This is equivalent to a Grand Cru. The legendary vintage are: 2013, 2016, 2019 en 2021.