Somontano wine region: the wines at the foot of the mountain with the best of Aragon and France

Much has been written about this wine region which for many is the best in Aragon or one that produces the best whites in Spain along with Rías Baixas, Penedès or Jerez-Sherry. This is not just another fellatio-article in search of web traffic. Here you will learn the truth about a D.O. who will soon turn 40 years old, has grown a lot... but has homework to do. Take note Paco Berroy.

GEOGRAPHY & CLIMATE

A fairly rugged topography, with many rivers and valleys. It is located in the foothills of the Pyrenees, in the 'Somontano de Barbastro' county. This region has a diverse topography, ranging from plains to mountainous zones. Furthermore, it is characterized by the presence of rivers such as the Alcanadre and the Vero, which influence the climate and soil fertility. The village of Barbastro is the epicenter of the wine region. As a curiosity, this region shares an approximate latitude with the vineyards of Ajaccio (Corse) and Montefiascone's Est! (Lazio).

    

The climate of Somontano is characterized by being temperate Mediterranean with continental influence. This means that it has hot, dry summers and cold winters. Northerly winds, such as the Zierzo, have a marked influence on the region. Furthermore, the proximity of the Pyrenees contributes to the formation of local microclimates in its valleys, such as those of Vero and Cinca. These climatic conditions favor the cultivation of Bordeaux varieties.

VARIETIES

Somontano, although it is one of the Spanish regions that produces the best Chardonnay, has enough potential to shine with its own light. That light is currently mistreated native varieties that lie forgotten in the document that defines the rules and regulations. We are talking about the Moristel, Parraleta and the white Alcañón grapes.

Therefore, it is not the Aragonese varieties that are protected but the French ones: Chardonnay, Merlot and Cabernet alone cover more than 65% of the vineyard area planted in this region, which in total amounts to 4,600 hectares / 11,366 acres. This area is equivalent to the Touraine AOC vineyards in the Loire Valley or Haut-Médoc (on the left bank of Bordeaux).

VILLAGES

43 municipalities are attached to the Somontano D.O : but only one of them concentrates 70% of its population: Barbastro. The most interesting terruños due to their altitude are in the villages of Alquézar (660 m.), Adahuesca (616 m.) and Colungo (609 m.). Of course there is no classification or hierarchy with the best crus / sites as occurs in Priorat, Burgundy, Bordeaux or Côtes de Provence.

Abiego, Adahuesca, Alcalá del Obispo, Angües, Antillón, Alquezar, Argavieso, Azara, Azlor, Barbastro, Barbuñales, Berbegal, Blecua-Torres, Bierge, Capella, Casbas de Huesca, Castillazuelo, Colungo, Estada, Estadilla, Fonz, El Grado, Graus, Hoz y Costean, Ibieca, Ilche, Laluenga, Laperdiguera, Lascellas-Ponzano, Naval, Olvena, Peralta de Alcofea, Peraltilla, Perarrúa, Pertusa, Pozán de Vero, La Puebla de Castro, Salas Altas, Salas Bajas, Santa María de Dulcis, Secastilla, Siétamo and Torres de Alcanadre. 

FEATURED WINERIES

We found two great models: the large wine factories that have placed their wines in various markets and the small family projects that are aimed at very specific clients.

• Viñas del Vero: Founded in 1987 and belonging to the southern business group 'Gonzalez Byass', this winery is considered the driving force of the Somontano for its profitability and savoir faire. Its “boss”, José Ferrer, is waiting for you in Barbastro to try the entire range. His top wine 'Gran Vos red' only costs $19 and is a predominantly French assemblage, with 18 months of french.

• Enate: Located in Salas Bajas village, it is the other of the D.O giants that enjoys the media support of the most influential newspaper in the region: Heraldo. Luis Nozaleda is its owner. Its art museum integrated into the winery stands out. Their top wine 'Varietales' is a red for only $24 made from French varieties.

• El grillo y la Luna: Founded in 2007 in Barbastro, this winery has a different focus than the previous two: making premium wines. Antonio Calvo is responsible for the project and his top wine, valued at $148, is an artisan's work around Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon.

• Alodia: one of the few wineries in the wine region that respects the local varieties of Somontano and that proposes wines different from the trend of the area. This family project located in Adahuesca has its own restaurant and has opted for single-varietal Moristel, Alcañón, sparkling wines and a carbonic maceration. Their wines range between $7 and $35.

• Lalanne: family and historic winery (1894) with roots in Bordeaux. The founder is credited with bringing some French varieties to Somontano and laying the foundations of the current wine region with two other winemakers. Their 25 hectares produce wines between $7 and $23, including sparkling wines.

CONCLUSION

This wine region is dangerously losing faith in herself and her identity. On the other hand, its growth is promising thanks to its overall quality-price ratio. However, we will develop its strengths and weaknesses through the following analysis.