Alvaro Palacios
Alvaro Palacios is one of Spain’s absolutely best winemakers and the producer of one of the most famous wines in Europe, the legendary L’Ermita wine, a wine that is now one of the most prized possession of Spain. With bodegas in Rioja, Priorat and Bierzo, Palacios is one of the defining personalities in Spanish wine today. In just 20 years, he has established a formidable reputation as a dynamic pioneer, generating global praise for his wines – in particular, those from the forgotten regions of Spain he has been so active in promoting.
Now in its 31st year, the Decanter Man of the Year prize has been awarded to some of the wine world’s best-known figures, including Angelo Gaja, Robert Mondavi and the late Serge Hochar, who was the first to claim the award.
It is down to his extreme focus and quest for perfection that Palacios plays such a significant role in the Spanish wine scene, writes Pedro Ballesteros Torres MW in the April issue of Decanter magazine – where the prize was announced. ‘His pioneering nature helped to rescue both Priorat and Bierzo from oblivion,’ writes Ballesteros.