Álvaro Palacios L'Ermita

This highly sought-after Spanish red wine is primarily composed of old-vine Garnacha (Grenache) and Cariñena (Carignan). These grapes are grown on the steep, slate-rich hillsides known as llicorella soil in the Priorat region of Catalonia.

L'Ermita is considered the flagship, ultra-premium wine of Álvaro Palacios, produced in extremely small quantities compared to his broader regional wine, Les Terrasses. It comes from a specific, very old vineyard and commands a significantly higher price due to its limited production and critical acclaim.

The vines for this wine are planted in the unique llicorella soil of Priorat, which consists of fractured slate and quartz. This nutrient-poor, rocky soil forces the vines to dig deep for water, resulting in highly concentrated and complex fruit flavors.

Álvaro Palacios, a member of the renowned Rioja winemaking Palacios family, created this wine in the early 1990s. He was a pioneer in the Priorat region, helping to elevate it to international prestige alongside other local producers like René Barbier.