Considered by many to be the finest white wine producer in Spain, Rafael Palacios exclusively produces white wine from the Godello grape variety (along with miniscule amounts of Treixadura which are mixed amongst some of the old vine parcels) in the small town of O Bolo in Valdeorras, Galicia. Originally from Rioja, Rafa’s family owns the renowned Palacios Remondo winery, and his brother is one of Spain’s most famous vingernons, Alvaro Palacios. After studying oenology in Bordeaux, Rafa returned to the family winery and produced their first white wine. However, he fell in love with Godello and the region of Valdeorras and founded his eponymous winery in 2004.

Rafa farms 24 hectares of vines in the village of O Bolo, which sits in the far western part of Valdeorras where the soils are comprised of sandy decomposed granite. Rafa’s vineyards are at high elevation (620-740 meters) and are terraced due to the steeply sloping hillsides of the Bibei Valley. Viticulture is all done manually and by horse, with organic and biodynamic practices employed.

Louro do Bolo is essentially Rafa’s ‘village’ wine, from vines with an average age of 25 years. It is fermented with ambient yeasts in large oak foudre before spending 4 months on its lees in the same oak casks. This is an impressively concentrated and complex wine for the price. The 2022 vintage combines perfect ripeness alongside electric acidity with the granitic soils providing intensity and vibrancy. Minerals, citrus, nectarine, and a lovely saline note frame the long, textured finish. This is always a huge favourite when we’re lucky to have it.  

We also have a few bottles each of Rafa’s tiny production Sorte Antiga 2020 and 2021. Sorte Antiga is a single parcel (sorte) of 100+ year-old ungrafted bush vines, which result in incredibly low yields and wonderfully complex wines.