Los Grandes de la Rioja: scenes from Saturday 11th September

Alavaro Palacios of Alfaro extends a welcoming hand

No surprise who the star of yesterday's Los Grandes programme was: Alvaro Palacios of Bodegas Palacios Remondo. Entirely predictable as Alvaro has charisma and star quality. Furthermore he and his sister know how to organise a visit properly even though it is likely to overrun by at least an hour or more.

Bodegas Viña Herminia

Saturday's programme, however, started with a chaotically organised visit to Viña Herminia. It was so chaotic that it was a pity it wasn't videoed, so this could be used to demonstrate how not to organise a visit – how to avoid some of the most obvious pitfalls.

The English translator turned up 10 minutes late and the managing director 20 minutes late for our one hour visit. Once the md arrived he decided it would be a good idea to do his presentation on a walkway over the barrel cellar where the acoustics for a group of 30-40 people were very poor. The wines we were to taste weren't opened in advance .... I could go on but won't.   

View from Viña Herminia

Points on the Roberto Par-Coeur 100 point winery visit scale: 60

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Bodegas Palacios Remondo

In contrast to Viña Herminia this visit had clearly been thought through and was well put together. It helps, of course, that Alvaro is very personable. His sister, Chelo, is equally personable and friendly though less exuberant than her young brother. 

Chelo Palacios

Visits to vineyards in Rioja can be tough! First stop on the Palacios tour

Alvaro tasting in his winery

Farewell complete with Alvaro's  bull-fighting cape

To be concluded...