EMW Signs the Palacios Brothers: Rafael & Álvaro Palacios

Shanghai, 20 October 2026 – East Meets West Fine Wines (EMW) and Spain's Rafael Palacios signed an exclusive import and distribution agreement for Greater China; in addition, EMW has also reached a formal agreement with Álvaro Palacios, the brother winery of Rafael Palacios, becoming one of its official importers for Mainland of China.

Álvaro Palacios and Rafael Palacios are brothers born into the Palacios family—one of Spain's most famous wine producers, with a winemaking history dating back 350 years. Their parents' bodega Palacios Remondo was founded in 1945 in Rioja Oriental. Growing up surrounded by wines, they took the family heritage and, representing the family's fourth generation of vine growers, each embarked on their own independent winemaking careers.

Álvaro Palacios & Rafael Palacios

After a stint working at Pomerol's fabled Château Petrus, Álvaro returned to his roots in the late 1980s. In 1989, he arrived in Priorat as one of the five famed "pioneers", and there he established his eponymous winery. In 1993, Álvaro located a Garnacha vineyard on well-drained schist, naming it L'Ermita for a small chapel which can be found on a hill in the property.

The vineyard is now regarded as the crown jewel property in Priorat. The Álvaro Palacios L'Ermita was rated 100 points by Robert Parker three times (vintage 2013, 2018 and 2021); Álvaro was named "Man of the Year 2015" by Decanter magazine; and in honor of his exceptional contribution to the modern history of wine in Spain, the Institute of Masters of Wine announced Álvaro as the recipient of the 2016 Winemakers' Winemaker Award.

The vineyard of Álvaro Palacios

Rafael once worked in Bordeaux and Australia for years. In 2004, he began his personal project, buying neglected vineyards planted with native white varietal Godello, near O Bolo in the Bibei Valley (DO Valdeorras). They are located in the westernmost part of the Valdeorras region, on the right bank of the Bibei River, at altitudes ranging from 580 to 720 meters. Rafael took a long time to recover them, and in 2011, he bottled his first single-vineyard wine, Sorte O Soro.

Today, the small Galician region of Valdeorras has become the epicenter of fine Spanish white winemaking. Sorte O Soro, the winery's flagship wine, has earned full scores twice from leading wine critics. Luis Gutiérrez of The Wine Advocate described its 2014 vintage as "amongst the best white wines ever produced in Spain". On June 4, 2026, Rafael was officially inducted into the Gran Orden de Caballeros del Vino, recognised for his landmark contribution to Spanish wine.

The vineyard of Rafael Palacios

These two Spanish wine luminaries have once again expanded EMW's portfolio of Spanish fine wines.

Oscar Nagore, CEO, EMW Fine Wines

"Bringing Álvaro Palacios and Rafael Palacios into the EMW family is a defining moment for our company and a clear signal of where the fine wine market in Greater China is headed.

Today's landscape in Mainland of China is undergoing a profound structural evolution. Sommeliers and fine wine lovers are no longer simply looking for established region names; they are demanding authentic terroir provenance, historic rigor, and uncompromised quality in every bottle. Furthermore, we are seeing an unprecedented surge in demand for world-class, age worthy white wines alongside a refined appreciation for Spain's single-vineyard red icons.

Álvaro and Rafael Palacios embody the absolute peak of this movement. We are thrilled to secure full exclusive representation for Rafael Palacios, whose high-altitude Godellos from Valdeorras stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the greatest white wines of the world. Simultaneously, adding Álvaro Palacios' top-tier, open-market fine wine portfolio—including his legendary single-vineyard expressions from Priorat, Rioja, and Bierzo—gives our clients access to the absolute zenith of Spanish red winemaking.

Partnering with these two master craftsmen perfectly aligns with EMW's long-term vision: to be the most trusted, strategic, and quality-obsessed fine wine partner in the region, connecting iconic producers with Greater China's most discerning palates."

Álvaro Palacios, Owner, Álvaro Palacios

"We are delighted to work alongside EMW, one of China's leading wine importers and a highly valued partner who shares our passion for fine wines, tradition, purity, and the unique expression of exceptional pieces of land and vineyards. We are deeply grateful to them for embracing this philosophy and for bringing the soul and spirit of our vineyards in Priorat, Rioja and Bierzo closer to the Chinese market. It is a joy and an honour to share this together, celebrating the beauty, authenticity and emotion of great wines!"

Rafael Palacios, Owner, Rafael Palacios

"My project and I have been waiting for 22 years. Now it is the definitive take-off and settlement of our wines in the Chinese market. An illusion and a work that we had not yet managed to carry out and that I am convinced that thanks to this new stage of collaboration that starts with EMW, we are confident that we will be in the best hands and our wines will be finally well represented in a market that has always been so important to me. Toast to everything we achieved and to our collaboration!"

Wine Portfolio

Alvaro Palacios, Finca Dofi, Priorat DOCa

Alvaro Palacios, Descendientes de J. Palacios Las Lamas, Bierzo

Alvaro Palacios, La Baixada, Priorat DOCa

Alvaro Palacios, Quinon de Valmira, Rioja DOCa

Rafael Palacios, Louro, DO Bolo Valdeorras

Rafael Palacios, As Sortes, Val do Bibei Valdeorras

Rafael Palacios, Sorte Antiga, Val do Bibei Valdeorras

Rafael Palacios, Sorte O Soro, Val do Bibei Valdeorras

EMW Fine Wines

EMW is a leading importer, distributor, and brand builder in the Greater China market, working closely with more than 110 family-owned and premium wine estates and sake breweries from 16 countries worldwide. EMW has an unequaled distribution network to top restaurants, hotels, wine shops, online VIP customers, and an exclusive network of distribution covering over 160 cities in China. EMW has been awarded "Best Wine Importer" for 13 consecutive years since 2011 by China Sommeliers Wine Challenge, Golden Prestige Awards and WINE100 Challenge.