Our Story
Restoring a family legacy
“I remember going with him to the vineyards and watching him work. I particularly remember how much he worked and how different things were, all manual labor! He made wine and would sell it to the taverns in Quiroga. In 1968 at age 11, I remember watching him plant a vineyard by hand, and it is one of my most cherished memories.”
At age 11, Antonio López Fernández watched his grandfather, Fructuoso Fernández, plant vineyards in his home village of Alvaredos. During that time, Fructuoso and his family farmed the vineyards, made wine, and then sold it to surrounding wineries. As the years went on and the family moved to the United States, many of the vineyards were sold off, but Antonio never forgot his family’s winemaking heritage.
Beginning in late 1990s, Antonio began reacquiring the vineyards his family had owned, some held as far back as the late 1800’s. Antonio began investing in the winery facility and restoring the old historic houses of the town, with the goal of not only producing top quality wines in the region, but also to share his love for this small Galician village that has been home to his family for generations.
The partnership
As his plan to reestablish his family’s winemaking heritage began to coalesce, Antonio began searching for a vintner who could share his passion for making high quality wines from the region’s rugged slate soils. In 2014, he met acclaimed vintner Paul Hobbs, and convinced him to travel to Alvaredos the following year to explore the potential of this remote northwest corner of Galicia. As they explored the steep, terraced slopes surrounding the village above the Sil River, they quickly realized their mutual desire to unearth the potential held in these ancient sites and indigenous varieties.
After a long drive together back to Madrid, a lifelong partnership was established. After nearly 20 years, Antonio fulfilled his ardent desire to pay tribute to his small village and his grandfather who inspired in him the love of the land when he was a child. As an ardent champion of “hidden gem” winegrowing regions, the project also presented an opportunity for Paul to champion one of the oldest and forgotten corners of viticulture in Spain by honoring its unique history while playing a role in elevating the region for present and future generations.
the label
Combining ancient tradition with a modern expression, our label pays homage to the unique history of Alvaredos and the region of Galicia.
The arches topped by spires take inspiration from the Romanesque churches, monasteries, and chapels found throughout the region.
The hammered gold exemplifies the arrival of the Romans who sought gold in the nearby rivers. Romans were the first to cultivate the region, and began planting grapes on these steep slopes.
The dark gray background represents the slate content in the soils of the region, which help to retain heat and provide drainage in the vineyards.