Raúl Pérez

Raúl Pérez honed his craft at his family winery, Castro Ventosa, founded by the Peréz in 1752. It was there that he led his first harvest, aged 22, and developed his instinctive knowledge for the terroirs of Valtuille and for Mencía, in its most refined and classical forms. His family legacy, his academic studies and his endless curiosity are the foundations of the craftsmanship and passion that make his wines so distinct. The centuries-old traditions passed down through generations of his family, combined with his formal education and natural inclination to experiment, have created a unique approach to winemaking that bridges the gap between historical methods and modern innovation.

Hoping to explore a different, more light-handed approach to viticulture and winemaking, he launched his personal venture, independent from his family’s estate (where, however, he remains as consultant winemaker) in 2003. This bold move allowed him to fully express his creative vision and implement his innovative ideas without constraints.

Bodegas y Viñedos Raúl Pérez was thus born. The first wines released under his name were the now iconic Ultreia, possibly the best ‘entry-level’ wines you’ll ever drink, named after the greeting that the pilgrims walking the Camino de Santiago, which passes through Valtuille, used in the past. It means ‘we go further’ and is a sign of endurance and hope. Since then, the list of wines authored by Raúl has shamelessly grown, now counting more than 200 references in The Wine Advocate’s database, including the highly acclaimed Ultreia Saint Jacques.

As passionate as he is prolific, Raúl has extended his winemaking skill to multiple projects, regions and collaborations, working with old vine vineyards to produce exceptional Galician wines and Atlantic wines. Among his most exciting ‘pas de deux’ are Camino del Norte with Luis Miguel Fernández (Bierzo), Castro Candaz and Atalier with Rodrigo Méndez (Rías Baixas and Ribeira Sacra), Ultreia Douro with Dirk Niepoort (Douro and Ribeira Sacra), Encinas with Antoine Graillot (Bierzo) and Cabo de Las Tormentas with Eben Sadie (Swartland). Further to these, his portfolio includes La Vizcaína de Vinos and multiple explorations he has been doing on his own to deepen his knowledge of the grapes and terroirs of Bierzo, Rías Baixas and Ribeira Sacra.

Raúl’s boundless energy and enthusiasm are perfectly reflected in the joy each of his wines brings to one’s glass. His unwavering commitment to natural winemaking practices and dedicated focus on native varieties like Godello, combined with his masterful handling of Mencía grapes, have resulted in an impressive range of wines that eloquently express the unique characteristics of each vineyard site. His minimalist intervention approach allows the natural qualities of the grapes and terroir to shine through, creating wines that are both authentic and distinctive. Whether it’s the consistently outstanding Ultreia series or his meticulously crafted single-vineyard offerings, Raúl Pérez continues to push the boundaries of winemaking in Spain, creating wines that brilliantly balance innovation with tradition, each bottle telling its own unique story of place and craftsmanship.