Profile of Alvaro Palacios

Alvaro Palacios comes from a prestigious wine family from the La Rioja region. He could have secured a prime position in the family winery, the world-famous Palacios Remondo. However, being the dynamic visionary 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 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, is considered the “new generation” of Spanish winemakers. His wines have won him cult status and are absolutely salivated about in the wine mags. John Radford, the Spanish wine specialist, says: “To sum up: Les Terrasses is excellent, Finca Dofí is outstanding, and L’Ermita is unbelievable.”

Wines produced

  • 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%

Winery details

Alvaro Palacios

Afores, s/n
43737 Gratallops
Tarragona
Tel +34 977 839 195
Fax +34 977 839 197

Appellation
Priorat
Founded
1989
Area under vine
25 ha
Age of vines
10-100 year old vines
Oak barrel origin
French
Winemaker
Alvaro Palacios / Joan Asens
Owner
Alvaro Palacios
Grape varietals
Garnacha, Cariñena, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah

More information

If you would like us to customize an exclusive, luxury tour for you, get in touch with us and let us know your travel plans. We offer luxury food and wine tours for private groups of minimum 2 guests. All of our private, chauffeured tours are available year round upon request.

Contact us for your personalized quote!
Cellar Tours Private Luxury Food & Wine Tours

Cellar Tours

Cellar Tours is a Luxury Travel Specialist, operating since 2003 and offering exclusive Mercedes chauffeured Gourmet Vacations in Chile, France, Italy, Ireland, Portugal, South Africa, and Spain. We specialize in luxurious custom designed vacations, events and incentives related to food and wine. We are proud members of Slow Food, UNAV (Travel Agency Association in Spain), and the IACP (International Association of Culinary Professionals).

Recommended by