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Buy Wine from Rafael Palacios
The Rafael Palacios winery is located in the Bibei Valley, in the municipality of A Rúa, within the D.O. Valdeorras, in Galicia.
This personal project began in 2004, when Rafael Palacios, who comes from a renowned family of winegrowers in La Rioja, decided to acquire old vineyards of the native Godello grape variety from elderly winegrowers. The region, characterised by its extreme orography and not very fertile soils, had suffered almost total abandonment due to phylloxera and the economic depression of the 1920s. However, these vineyards, mostly cultivated on terraces, were inherited and maintained through raffles, called "Sorte" in Galician.Rafael Palacios began his career in the family winery Palacios Remondo, where he created the white wine Placet after studying oenology in Bordeaux. Later, he worked as a consultant winemaker for Valdesil in Valdeorras before starting his own project in the same region. Over time, Rafael has managed to consolidate his winery as one of the most prestigious in Spain, thanks to his focus on quality and his respect for the winemaking tradition of Valdeorras.
Vineyards
Rafael Palacios ' vineyards cover 32 plots with a total surface area of 24.5 hectares, all dedicated to the Godello variety. These plots are located on the right bank of the Bibei River, at an altitude varying between 620 and 740 metres. The vineyards enjoy a continental climate with Atlantic influence, which contributes to the particularity of the wines produced in this region.
The soil in this area is predominantly granitic, with granitic sands and quartz schist, which provides an excellent base for viticulture. These soils are infertile, acidic and erodible, requiring light and traditional tillage techniques, including the use of animal traction, to preserve the structure of the terraces and the historic landscape of the Bibei Valley. The older vines are cultivated under biodynamic farming principles, which reinforces Rafael Palacios ' commitment to ecological and sustainable practices.
Philosophy
Rafael Palacios ' winemaking philosophy is based on the utmost respect for the identity of O Bolo and the purity of expression of his vineyards. Rafael personally controls the field work and winemaking processes, ensuring minimal intervention in the fermentation and ageing process. This allows the Godello grape to fully express its natural characteristics and the terroir of the Bibei Valley.
The winery combines traditional and modern tilling techniques, such as the use of animal traction, to maintain the structure of the terraces and the historic landscape. The leitmotiv of the project is to recover and maintain the traditional viticulture of the region, producing wines that faithfully reflect the terroir of Valdeorras. This approach has led to the creation of high quality wines that capture the essence of the region, respecting both tradition and innovation in viticulture.
The Rafael Palacios range of wines includes: Louro do Bolo, made from parcels of young vines, this wine is fermented naturally in 35 hl foudres and aged on its fine lees for 4 months before bottling. It is a clear and precise wine, with a fine minerality and a well textured fruit base, ideal for everyday drinking; As Sortes, this wine comes from old vines located in six sortes in the north of the Bibei Valley, planted in the 70s and 80s. The plots are worked organically and with some biodynamic elements. The grapes are fermented and aged in 500 L oak barrels for 8 months, resulting in a refined and complex wine, showing great depth and character; Sortes Únicas, these are single plot wines produced in very limited quantities. They include Sorte Antiga, from a vineyard planted in 1920 and managed biodynamically, and O Soro, a wine that has received 100 points from Wine Advocate, considered Rafael Palacios' best Grand Cru site. These wines represent the maximum exponent of the quality and potential of Galician white wines, combining concentration, complexity and freshness.
In conclusion, Rafael Palacios has managed to position his wines among the best in Spain thanks to his dedication, respect for tradition and meticulous attention to every detail of the winemaking process. His commitment to quality and the Valdeorras terroir is reflected in every bottle, making his wines an authentic and sublime expression of this Galician region. The Rafael Palacios winery is a testament to the power of tradition and innovation, and a shining example of what dedicated and environmentally friendly viticulture can achieve.
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Buy Wine from Rafael Palacios
The Rafael Palacios winery is located in the Bibei Valley, in the municipality of A Rúa, within the D.O. Valdeorras, in Galicia.
This personal project began in 2004, when Rafael Palacios, who comes from a renowned family of winegrowers in La Rioja, decided to acquire old vineyards of the native Godello grape variety from elderly winegrowers. The region, characterised by its extreme orography and not very fertile soils, had suffered almost total abandonment due to phylloxera and the economic depression of the 1920s. However, these vineyards, mostly cultivated on terraces, were inherited and maintained through raffles, called "Sorte" in Galician.Rafael Palacios began his career in the family winery Palacios Remondo, where he created the white wine Placet after studying oenology in Bordeaux. Later, he worked as a consultant winemaker for Valdesil in Valdeorras before starting his own project in the same region. Over time, Rafael has managed to consolidate his winery as one of the most prestigious in Spain, thanks to his focus on quality and his respect for the winemaking tradition of Valdeorras.
Vineyards
Rafael Palacios ' vineyards cover 32 plots with a total surface area of 24.5 hectares, all dedicated to the Godello variety. These plots are located on the right bank of the Bibei River, at an altitude varying between 620 and 740 metres. The vineyards enjoy a continental climate with Atlantic influence, which contributes to the particularity of the wines produced in this region.
The soil in this area is predominantly granitic, with granitic sands and quartz schist, which provides an excellent base for viticulture. These soils are infertile, acidic and erodible, requiring light and traditional tillage techniques, including the use of animal traction, to preserve the structure of the terraces and the historic landscape of the Bibei Valley. The older vines are cultivated under biodynamic farming principles, which reinforces Rafael Palacios ' commitment to ecological and sustainable practices.
Philosophy
Rafael Palacios ' winemaking philosophy is based on the utmost respect for the identity of O Bolo and the purity of expression of his vineyards. Rafael personally controls the field work and winemaking processes, ensuring minimal intervention in the fermentation and ageing process. This allows the Godello grape to fully express its natural characteristics and the terroir of the Bibei Valley.
The winery combines traditional and modern tilling techniques, such as the use of animal traction, to maintain the structure of the terraces and the historic landscape. The leitmotiv of the project is to recover and maintain the traditional viticulture of the region, producing wines that faithfully reflect the terroir of Valdeorras. This approach has led to the creation of high quality wines that capture the essence of the region, respecting both tradition and innovation in viticulture.
The Rafael Palacios range of wines includes: Louro do Bolo, made from parcels of young vines, this wine is fermented naturally in 35 hl foudres and aged on its fine lees for 4 months before bottling. It is a clear and precise wine, with a fine minerality and a well textured fruit base, ideal for everyday drinking; As Sortes, this wine comes from old vines located in six sortes in the north of the Bibei Valley, planted in the 70s and 80s. The plots are worked organically and with some biodynamic elements. The grapes are fermented and aged in 500 L oak barrels for 8 months, resulting in a refined and complex wine, showing great depth and character; Sortes Únicas, these are single plot wines produced in very limited quantities. They include Sorte Antiga, from a vineyard planted in 1920 and managed biodynamically, and O Soro, a wine that has received 100 points from Wine Advocate, considered Rafael Palacios' best Grand Cru site. These wines represent the maximum exponent of the quality and potential of Galician white wines, combining concentration, complexity and freshness.
In conclusion, Rafael Palacios has managed to position his wines among the best in Spain thanks to his dedication, respect for tradition and meticulous attention to every detail of the winemaking process. His commitment to quality and the Valdeorras terroir is reflected in every bottle, making his wines an authentic and sublime expression of this Galician region. The Rafael Palacios winery is a testament to the power of tradition and innovation, and a shining example of what dedicated and environmentally friendly viticulture can achieve.