Alvaro Palacios is one of Spain’s most significant and influential producers, credited for being one of the pioneers that assisted in the resurrection of Priorat as a wine region. Alvaro came from a winemaking family in Rioja but completed his oenology studies in Bordeaux while working under Jean-Pierre Moueix at Chateau Pétrus. In 1989, he made the decision to set up in Priorat. Almost from the start, his wines were met with great international acclaim, helping to raise global awareness of Priorat as a region. In 1998, intrigued by the potential of the Bierzo region, Alvaro and his nephew Picardo Perez formed a joint venture called Descendientes de J Palacios making superb Mencia based wines from a variety of terroirs.