The Somontano won its Denominacion de Origen (Designation of Origin-DO) status in 1984 after a long struggle by local growers, and ever since it has produced impressive results. There are about 3,000 ha under vine registered by the locale regulatory council, and the region is dominated by less than 5 top wineries (namely Enate, Bodegas Pirineos and Viñas del Vero).
Traditionally, the indigenous grapes used created very rustic wines. These traditional styles of wine have been completely and utterly uprooted and replaced with the new wave of modern winemaking, using many international varietals (including Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Chardonnay and Gewurztraminer) and Spanish noble grapes such as Tempranillo. The key players in this wine region are the above mentioned wineries who have invested millions in modern wineries, star winemakers and wine tourism infrastructure. Whereas in other parts of Spain it can be impossible to visit wineries, Enate, Bodegas Pirineos and Viñas del Vero have set out to be main attractions on Spanish wine tours.
Somontano has had vines among its cultivated crops since two centuries B.C. The phylloxera plague that wiped out the vineyards of France and Europe in the 19th Century, gave the industry a great boost due to the arrival of winemakers looking for the ideal spot to plant new vines to make their wine. This was the case of Francisco Lallane, the founder of one of the oldest wineries in Somontano. Other wineries, such as Osca and Fabregas, date back to this same period. Viñas del Vero, Enate and Pirineos are the three largest wineries in terms of production.
In addition, Somontano boasts other important projects that have been more recently incorporated into the Designation of Origen, such as Bodegas Olvena, Laus and Irius. Here, architecture has been skilfully adapted to ensure that it meets the demands of high quality wine production as well as the needs of visiting tourists and specialists, while at the same time reflecting culture and design.
The Somontano region offers the gourmet tourist a complete package: cozy restaurants tucked away in romantic, historic villages offering the excellent local cuisine (high on game, artisan cheeses, rich vegetable dishes and homemade sausage chorizos); stunning modern wineries who open their doors to happy, wine loving visitors; and wonderful landscapes and scenery.
Source: David Gimenez / Aragonguide.com
