Sustainable practices at Palacios Vinos de Finca-Nivarius-Proelio are based on four concepts: respect for the natural environment and its preservation, ecological viticulture, minimal winemaking intervention in the winery, and wine tourism activities that highlight the land. This philosophy earned Palacios Vinos de Finca, Nivarius and Proelio a 2026 Best Of Wine Tourism award for Sustainable Wine Tourism Practices and a People’s Choice Award.
Vanesa Pérez, Communications and Marketing Manager at Palacios Vinos de Finca, receives the 2026 Best Of Wine Tourism Award in the Sustainable Wine Tourism Practices category from Gonzalo Capellán, President of the Government of La Rioja, Spain.
Respecting and protecting the natural environment
When you arrive at Palacios Vinos de Finca, you can’t help noticing the jaw-dropping beauty of a carpet of vineyards and in the distance, the ochre cliffs of Viguera, the gateway to the Cameros mountains. Three buildings with their stone façades- Nivarius, where white wines are made, Proelio for reds and the recently opened visitors’ center blend seamlessly into this landscape.
Solar panels generate energy to power the buildings, increasing energy efficiency and reducing the emission of greenhouse gases. The stones that cover the outside walls of the three buildings were waste from a nearby quarry.
Ecological viticulture – respect for the land that produces our grapes
The Proelio and Nivarius vineyards are cultivated following strict, certified ecological principles. Thorough soil analysis determines the grape varieties best suited to each plot. Planting cover crops between the vines provides a wealth of ecological advantages: naturally fertilizing the soil, retaining moisture, helping to avoid erosion and acting as a habitat to enrich the biomass, both above and below ground. Native plants such as olive and oak trees, thyme and other plants coexist alongside the vineyards.
The group believes in protecting Rioja’s viticultural patrimony. One example is Finca La Esperilla, an old vineyard where Rioja’s four original red grape varieties – tempranillo, garnacha, mazuelo and graciano are planted, harvested and blended together. This practice of a “field blend” used to be widespread in Rioja but is rare today. Palacios is keeping this tradition alive.
Minimal intervention in the winery
At Palacios Vinos de Finca “less is more”. Winemaker Raúl Tamayo believes in letting the natural expression of each wine speak for itself, without aggressive treatments or long maceration, and using the right amount of ageing in the right receptacle (barrique, large oak cask, or tank).
This process guarantees that the wines best express not only the place where the grapes were grown, but also their varietal characteristics.
A coherent wine tourism program
Palacios offers the visitor a wide range of experiences, ranging from guided tours of the Nivarius and Proelio vinification plants with tastings and typical Riojan snacks, to extensive visits to the group’s most emblematic vineyards: Finca La Esperilla and Finca La Nevera.
At Finca La Esperilla, in the upper Iregua river valley near the historic Castle of Clavijo, you can learn about the history of the region, traditional grapegrowing and winemaking at the abovementioned field blend vineyard with Rioja’s of four original red grape varieties. Included is a tasting and a traditional Riojan lunch.
At the high-altitude (680-750 m.) Finca La Nevera, in the upper Najerilla river valley, visitors can marvel at an ancient stone-lined covered pit where cold weather year-round allowed food to be kept without spoiling. In addition, you can hear about the efforts to rescue maturana blanca, a grape on the verge of extinction as well as high altitude garnacha grapegrowing. A tasting of several Nivarius whites and a picnic lunch are included.
The wine bar is the perfect spot to enjoy the view of the estate and the surrounding mountains while enjoying a glass of wine and a snack.
___________
Text by Tom Perry, Inside Rioja
Photos: Palacios Vinos de Finca, Nivarius and Proelio
Learn more about Bilbao-Rioja Great Wine Capitals