Nº 04·Primavera 2026·Enoturismo del mundo hispano
Nº 01·Wine region·D.O. Bierzo
El Bierzo is a region between Galicia and Castilla, both geographically and viticulturally. The appellation has existed since 1989, but the transformation came when Álvaro Palacios and his nephew Ricardo Pérez Palacios moved to Corullón in 1999 and proved that Mencía — the native red grape — could yield top-tier wines. Today there are two Bierzos: the valley (young, fresh, fruity Mencía) and the slate hillsides of Corullón, Valtuille, and Villafranca (old-vine Mencía with serious slate minerality). The Godello white rounds out the offering.
By Mateo Iriarte·Editor
Updated · May 10, 2026
Nº 01·Featured
BierzoNº 01
Estefanía (commercial brand Tilenus) is one of the wineries that best represents "catalog-depth" Bierzo — without the cult aura of Palacios but with honest wines at reasonable prices. Tilenus Crianza is the logical entry to serious Bierzo; Tilenus Pieros and Tilenus Pagos de Posada (single-vineyard wines) are the premium tier. The visit is accessible, instructive, and doesn't require months-ahead booking.
BierzoNº 02
Descendientes de J. Palacios is the winery that changed the Bierzo conversation. Álvaro Palacios (yes, the Priorat Palacios) and his nephew Ricardo Pérez Palacios moved to Villafranca in 1999 and started recovering abandoned slate hillsides — very old Mencía vines on brutal slopes nobody wanted to work. Pétalos del Bierzo, Villa de Corullón, and the single-vineyard wines (Las Lamas, San Martín, Moncerbal, La Faraona) are global Mencía references. Small-group, serious visit.