Barbarot emerged in 2005, when I started producing the grapes of One Vineyard, Riscos de Bilibio, in Haro. This vineyard was planted by my father, Antonio Palacios Muro, with Tempranillo and Merlot varieties, attending the peculiarity of the soil. This land in particular, reminded of the yellow soils in St. Emilion (France) where the best plots of this French variety are planted. This experimental crop was granted by DOC Rioja..

This estate is located in the most emblematic orographic point of Haro, in the way of San Felices chapel. It was bought by my grandfather D. José Palacios Remondo in 1988. At the time, the land had crops of cereal. But its 490-550 metres of elevation, and its clayey and calcareous soils were the key reasons to plant Merlot, remembering those French soils.

One part of the vineyard was first planted in 1990: involving five acres of Tempranillo and seven and half acres of Merlot as experimental crop. Later, in 1999, another seven acres of Tempranillo were also planted.

This strategic decision was made by my father, when he still was a part of the family winery business, Palacios Remondo Wineries. His quest was to put a wine in the market that could represent the best quality of the company. It included a research of diverse native grapes of Rioja region, as well as foreign ones. Coupages were put to age, and a small percentage of foreign samples were added to enhance the blend and maintaining the representative characteristics of this region.

The final result was constant in all the tests: adding 16% of Merlot variety, which provides softness, roundness and aroma enrichment, improved the sample reference.

During those years, the aim was to produce an innovative and personal wine from Rioja, empowering the colour, aroma, meatiness and softness. That was how 2 viñedos (2 vineyards) was created

En su día el objetivo era crear un vino innovador y personal de Rioja, potenciando el color, estructura, carnosidad, suavidad y aroma.

Nowadays, in the making of Barbarot, it is not difficult not to find a resemblance between both wines , as they carry the same personality of Rioja, which ignited these experiences.