Bodegas Palacios Remondo

The Palacios family's connection to winemaking in Rioja stretches back to 1651, with the modern estate established by José Palacios Remondo in 1945. For decades the property followed conventional industrial practices centered on Tempranillo. The turning point came in 1999-2000 when Álvaro Palacios, already celebrated for his work founding the modern reputations of Priorat and Bierzo, returned to lead the family estate. He immediately redirected the operation toward quality-focused Garnacha production, cutting total output by 60% in the process.

• Family winemaking history documented from 1651
• Estate reestablished under José Palacios Remondo in 1945
• Álvaro Palacios took control in 1999-2000 after transformative work in Priorat and Bierzo
• Shift from industrial Tempranillo to quality-focused Garnacha defined the new direction

Palacios Remondo sits in Alfaro, in Rioja Oriental, formerly known as Rioja Baja, the warmest and most easterly subzone of DOCa Rioja. The estate's 100 hectares of vineyards climb the slopes of Monte Yerga at elevations between 550 and 700 meters. The semi-arid Mediterranean climate delivers only around 360 liters of rainfall per year, placing significant natural stress on the vines. Soils are rocky and stony, with iron-rich clay over calcareous subsoil and Quaternary-era sediments, providing excellent drainage.

• Alfaro is located in Rioja Oriental, the hottest and easternmost part of DOCa Rioja
• Vineyards sit at 550-700 meters on Monte Yerga slopes
• Annual rainfall averages just 360 liters, creating semi-arid conditions
• Rocky, iron-rich clay soils over calcareous subsoil with excellent drainage

Palacios Remondo converted to fully organic viticulture in 2003, eliminating all chemical fertilizers and pesticides. The estate operates with biodynamic principles alongside organic certification. The 100 hectares are planted with an unusually diverse range of varieties, including Garnacha, Garnacha Gris, Tempranillo, Graciano, Tinto Velasco, Bobal, and Viura. This variety of plantings reflects Álvaro Palacios's commitment to preserving the indigenous plant material of the region while prioritizing Garnacha as the estate's signature grape.

• Organic farming certified since 2003, with no chemical inputs
• Biodynamic principles applied across the estate
• Seven grape varieties planted, led by Garnacha and Garnacha Gris
• Indigenous varieties Tinto Velasco and Bobal preserved alongside classic Rioja grapes

The estate produces a range of wines that showcase the mineral, floral character achievable from high-elevation Garnacha in Rioja Oriental. La Vendimia and La Montesa represent the entry and mid tiers, while Propiedad and Quiñón de Valmira are single-vineyard expressions from the best parcels. The white Plácet de Valtomelloso, made from Viura, completes the lineup. Across all wines the style emphasizes freshness, sapid minerality, and aromatic complexity rather than extraction or heavy oak, a deliberate departure from the estate's pre-1999 approach.

• La Vendimia and La Montesa are the accessible entry points to the range
• Quiñón de Valmira is the flagship single-vineyard Garnacha
• Plácet de Valtomelloso is a Viura-based white of considerable reputation
• Style prioritizes mineral freshness and floral aromatics over power and oak