Profile of Alvaro Palacios Winery
Wine Map Priorat
Profile of Priorat Wine Region
Alvaro Palacios comes from a prestigious wine family, from La Rioja. He could have secured a prime
position in the family winery, the world famous Palacios Remondo. However, being the dynamic visionary
that he is, he decided to go out in the wine world and make his own way. He studied enology in Bordeaux
and had the enviable job of working under Pomerol superstar Châteaus Pétrus winemaker Jean Pierre Moueix.
When he returned to Spain, he founded his own winery in 1989 in the Mediterranean wine region of Priorat,
south of Barcelona in Tarragona. Together with respected winemaker René Barbier and a few others, they
ventured on what is has been called the "Gratallops Project", named after the scenic Priorat village
where the wines are made. The group bought the vineyards together and shared vinification facilities
until they each set up their own estates. His aim, it is widely said, was to make a wine somewhere in
between Ch. Pétrus and Grange. That is a tough order to fill, but he has achieved phenomenal praise for
his three wines, Finca Dofí, L'Ermita and Les Terrasses . Alvaro, along with Peter Sisseck at Pingus in
Ribera del Duero and Telmo Rodriguez in Toro wines, are considered to be the "new generation" of Spanish
winemakers. His wines have won him cult status, and are absolutely salivated about in the wine mags.
John Radford, Spanish wine specialist, says: "To sum up: Les Terrasses is excellent, Finca Dofí is
outstanding and L'Ermita is unbelievable".
Wine Reviews
L'Ermita 2000 - "An essence of berries on the nose, like a liqueur, with an almost medicinal suggestion of sheer concentration. 95-98 rating"
- Steve Tanzer.
L'Ermita 1998 - "Explodes on the mid palate and in the finish. 97 rating"
- Robert Parker
Les Terrasses - "As for a collectable wine in Priorat that sells for less than $50, my vote goes to Alvaro Palacios Les Terrasses."
- Tom Matthews, The Wine Spectator
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Wines
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| Finca Dofí |
Tinto Crianza, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Merlot, 50% Garnacha, 5% Cariñena, 17 months in French oak, Alc. 13.8% |
| L'Ermita |
Tinto Crianza, 80% Garnacha, 16% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Cariñena, 15 months in French oak, Alc. 13.8% |
| Les Terrasses |
Tinto Crianza, 50% Garnacha, 40% Cariñena, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12 months in French oak, Alc. 13.9% |
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Address:
Alvaro Palacios
Address: Afores, s/n, 43737, Gratallops, Tarragona, Spain
Tel: +34 977 839 195
Fax: +34 977 839 197
Email: alvaropalacios@ctv.es
Winery Details
D.O.: Priorat/ Priorato
Founded: 1989
Owner: Alvaro Palacios
Winemaker: Alvaro Palacios / Joan Asens
Import/ Export: 35% Domestic, 65% Export markets
Area under Vine: 25 ha own vineyards
Oak: French oak
Age of Vines: 10-100 year old vines, "En Vaso" and "Cordon Royat" pruning methods
Grape Varietals: Garnacha, Cariñena, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah
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