SPAIN - Alvaro Palacios Camins del Priorat

Priorat is a small DO in Spain's north east, south of Barcelona and not far from Tarragona. Phylloxera nearly wiped out the region completely; its recovery stalled by the after effects of the Civil War and the latter day exodus of workers to cities.

Decanter Magazine's Wine Man of the Year Alvaro Palacios has 35 hectares of vines in Priorat, along with vines in Rioja and Bierzo. In the last few decades, producers and critics alike have rejoiced in the recovery of the region - new plantings as well as old-vine 'grand cru' sites of ancient garnacha with carignan (also known as carinena, mazuelo and samsó).