Rafael Palacios: The Master of Godello in Valdeorras

When it comes to white winemaking in Spain, few names shine as brightly as Rafael Palacios. Widely regarded as one of the country’s most gifted white wine producers, Palacios has helped transform the once-overlooked Galician DO of Valdeorras into a benchmark for world-class white wines.

At the heart of this transformation is Godello, a grape that was nearly extinct just a few decades ago. Thanks to visionary producers like Palacios, Godello has not only been saved—it now thrives, expressing itself through wines of stunning precision, complexity, and age-worthiness.

Rafael Palacios crafts a compelling range of wines including Louro, O Soro, As Sortes, and Sorte Antiga. Each bottling reflects a unique vineyard expression, yet they all share a common thread: intensity, freshness, and a sense of place that rivals the best white wines of the world.

In fact, it’s not uncommon for seasoned tasters to compare Palacios’s Godello wines with top-tier white Burgundy—particularly those from Pouilly-Fuissé. There’s a shared elegance, depth, and mineral backbone that speaks to a similar terroir-driven philosophy.

If you haven’t yet made space in your cellar for these extraordinary wines, consider this your invitation to correct that oversight. Rafael Palacios is not just making great Spanish white wine—he’s setting a new standard for what white wine can be.