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Bierzo

Bierzo DO in the province of Leon in northwestern Spain is a remote rural region in the mountains between Castilla y León and Galicia.

The soils of Bierzo are mainly composed of clay and sand. The vineyard is characterized by a high fragmentation with a multitude of small parcels and the altitude of the vines ranges from 450 to 800 meters.

Classified as a Denomination of Origin (denominación de origen) in 1989, Bierzo covers just over 3,000 hectares.

Mencía is by far the star grape variety of Bierzo. An autochthonous varietal, it alone represents three quarters of the vines in the region. It is found nowhere else, except sparingly in Ribeira Sacra in Galicia and in the Dão region of Portugal. It is producing light red wines with fruity notes, smooth tannins, and an expression of minerally terroir.

Palomino is the most planted white grape variety, accounting for 17% of the Bierzo vineyard.

Alvaro Palacios

Born in 1964, Alvaro Palacios spent his childhood in his parents’ bodega, Palacios Remondo, in Rioja Oriental.

At a time when Spain had forged a reputation on branded wines, Alvaro Palacios had set his sights on a more ambitious, pioneering vision to make Great Classic Wines!

His search led him to Priorat, in Catalonia, where Garnacha traditionally reigns supreme. Through his world-class wine production, Alvaro Palacios has reinstated the reputation of the wild, isolated region of Priorat into a legend in its own right.

In the late 90s, in search of a new challenge, this time joining forces with his nephew Ricardo Perez Palacios, his passion led him to Bierzo, a relatively recent appellation in the region of Castilla y Leon. Alvaro Palacios launched Descendientes de J. Palacios, where through their continued hard work and dedication, the duo has succeeded in creating top-quality wines.

On the death of his father in 2000, Alvaro Palacios took over the helm of the Palacios Remondo in Rioja. He has since brought new dynamism to the family winery.