The Palacios family has left its mark on Spanish viticulture and really set the tone. Alvaro Palacios has rescued the Priorat region from oblivion with brilliant wines, some of which are now among the world's great cult wines, his nephew Ricardo has brought the Bierzo region into the focus of highly discerning wine lovers with outstanding wines, and Palacios Remondo produces excellent Rioja wines. And now Alvaro's brother Rafael has awakened the unknown region of Valdeorras in north-western Spain from its slumber. He has certainly not made it easy for himself, as the Valdeorras region is one of the most demanding in Spain. It is drier and warmer here, the Atlantic influence is minimal and, above all, there is sufficient rainfall in winter to guide the vines through the dry summer. However, the barren soils, characterised by slate and limestone, are largely terraced due to the steepness of the sites and are therefore very difficult to work with great effort, the vines are old and only produce very low yields, and it is precisely for this reason that not every vineyard is in the best condition. But this is precisely what appealed to Rafael Palacios when he settled in Val do Bibei with his family at the beginning of the 21st century. His goal? The Godello grape variety, which is predominant here and has enormous ageing potential. Today, around 20 hectares provide the grapes, scattered over 32 parcels, which are cultivated strictly organically and also partly biodynamically. In the lofty heights where these old parcels are located, the soil consists of granite, which can provide a taut minerality in the wines. Rafael's wines are the result of pure manual work with as little intervention as possible. They are intended to be served in the glass as an authentic reflection of the terroir and the rugged landscape of Valdeorras, without the cosmetics of new wood. This not only makes them unique, many critics compare them in terms of depth and complexity with first-class Burgundies such as a Montrachet, or the very best Riesling Grosses Gewächsen from Germany. Rafael Palacios is virtually revered in Spain for these wines.
Route
