Quiñón de Valmira is the statement wine of Palacios Remondo: a Rioja Oriental Garnacha that behaves less like a ‘product’ and more like a place you could stand in — a slope above Alfaro where dryness, stony soils and that Yerga scrubland character become part of the wine’s signature.
In February 2025, Rioja’s official release about The Wine Advocate’s Rioja report confirmed the headline: Quiñón de Valmira 2023 received 100 points.
Quinon de Valmira Alvaro Palacios 2023 is a Garnacha wine from Rioja Oriental that shows how fine wines can be made from old vines that grow at high altitudes. Alvaro Palacios, who is known for helping to bring the Priorat region back to life, uses his philosophy of respecting terroir on this project, where careful vineyard management helps the wine show off the Rioja Oriental landscape.
Tasting notes
The simplest way to understand Valmira 2023 is to focus on what doesn’t sound like generic Rioja.
The wine is light in colour and has delicate smells of red cherries and white pepper. It also has a strong tannic structure. The vintage has a bright acidity that lets the site’s unique mineral character shine through.
How to serve it (so it shows you the point): treat it like high-end Garnacha, not like a warm-room Rioja. Serve slightly cool — around 15–17°C — and if opening young, give it a gentle decant to let the perfume and mineral edges settle into harmony.
Critic’s Feedback
The wine that put Alfaro – and Rioja Oriental – on the map. A Garnacha with 15% of other traditional red varieties adding a unique complexity, it’s immediately charming with floral and red fruit aromas. The palate begins round, with dark cherries and chocolate, finishing with a savoury, saline impression.
Decanter
Pairings with food
Valmira 2023 isn’t a ‘big steak Rioja’ cliché. Its profile — floral lift, red fruit, citrus-peel brightness and mineral grip — leans towards elegant, savoury cooking rather than heavy sauces. Think:
- roast chicken with herbs, or a proper guinea fowl dish
- grilled lamb with rosemary and a bright finish
- mushrooms, peppers, olive oil, garlic, and char
Keep the flavours Mediterranean and honest: thyme, rosemary, fennel, peppers, olive oil — the same aromatic palette Rioja itself uses to describe this landscape.