“In 2015, Paul and Antonio walked the vineyards, touched & smelled the soil, and quickly realized their mutual desire to unearth the potential held in these ancient sites and indigenous varieties. During their drive back to Madrid, a partnership began.”
The partnership
When acclaimed vintner Paul Hobbs arrived in Spain in 2015, he traveled to a remote village in the northwest region of Galicia. There, he met with Antonio López Fernández, a local viticultor who introduced him to Alvaredos, a small town surrounded by mountains and vines planted on steep, terraced slopes. Together they explored the vineyards, smelled the soil, and 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 the small village and his grandfather who introduced him to the land when he was a child. The project also represents a new 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.
Paul Hobbs
Regarded as an international visionary for his accomplishments in the vineyard and winery, Paul has combined his childhood roots on the family farm with an innovative scientific approach to refine the art of winemaking. He is recognized across the globe for breaking with tradition and forging new paths in the pursuit of excellence; both in stewardship of the land, and the crafting of wines that represent the purist concept of place.
Here, in Spain, Paul further solidifies his legacy, honoring the agricultural heritage of Galicia by making wines from the region’s indigenous varieties, through his meticulous viticulture and a minimalist approach to winemaking.
Antonio López Fernández
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 Lopez 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.
“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 what are now known as orange style wines, and would sell them 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.”
–Antonio of his grandfather, Fructuoso Fernández Cao
Fructuoso Fernández Cao
“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 what are now known as orange style wines, and would sell them 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.”
–Antonio of his grandfather, Fructuoso