Somontano

There is little doubt that the DO Somontano has been at the forefront of the reveloution of Aragonese wine. Although the DO Somontano is helping shape the viticultural future of the region, it’s also has a strong history in vineyards and winemaking, dating all the way back to a few centuries before the birth of Christ. The development of grape cultivation and trade began with the settlement of the Italians in Somontano, who brought with them advanced winemaking techniques from Italy and helped form trading companies. During the middle ages, monasteries were also an influential factor in the development of the vineyard. Wine was often used as an essential product in Catholic rituals, which resulted in a sharp rise in vineyards in areas close to monasteries.

An important moment in the regions history was at the beginning of the nineteenth century, when affter the outbreak of phylloxera in French vineyards, the Lalanne family arrived from Bordeaux and Buenos Aires and planted, for the first time, the grape varieties Chardonnay, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noit and Syrah on plague resistant American Woodstock.

In the 1960’s, the Cooperativa Comarcal Somontano Sobrabe was formed, bringing together various growers and winemakers in the area. The cooperative helped improve and maintain the quality of viticulture, which quickly became the engine of the local economy. This was the first steps of the birth of the DO Somontano, which was officially recognised as a ‘Demoninación de Origin’ in 1984. Since then, many large business projects and strong investments in the vineyards and wineries have helped Somontano wines become some of the best in the country in record time. Infact, it was the Somontano region is responsible for the Aragonese wine revolution that occurred in the region during the 90´s, breaking down previous sterotypes, a revolution that quickly spread to other neighbouring regions such as Campo de Borja and Carignan, where lightness, balance, elegance, freshness and varietal diversification began to flourish.

Somontano is located in the southern side of the Pyrenees, in the province of Huesca. Within the DO Somontano there are 4,200 hectares of registered vineyards, worked by 424 growers and 31 wineries. North borders the counties of Sobrarbe and Ribagorza, contacting the west with the Hoya de Huesca, with the Monegros south and east with the region of the Bunk. The Alcanadre River divides the region into two parts: the Somontano of Huesca west and east of Barbastro. The Somontano of Huesca begins on the banks of the river Flumen and is developing to the southeast beginning to the east of Barbastro, more mountainous, with mountains and hills separated by deep ravines.

Climate, Soils and Varieties

The climate in the region is characterised by cold winters and hot summers, with a sudden change of temperature occurring at the end of spring and autumm in the months of June and November. The average annual temperature is 11 ° C. Annual precipitation stands at 500mm and decreases the further south and east you travel in the region, increasing the need to water the vineyards due to rising temperatures. There are acute water shortages in the months of July and August.

The vines in the region here enjoy a dark chalky soils, soft which allow good penetration of the roots of the vine. These soils are particularly high in lime, not especially fertile, and has good drainage which facilitates the deep penetration of roots so they can absorb more moisture and nutrients.

The vineyards in the region are located at altitudes varying between 350 and 1000 metres. Many different grape varieties are authorised and cultivated within the DO Somontano. These include Cabernet Sauvignon, which accounts for 30% of the vineyards, Merlot (23%), Tempranillo, Pinot Noit, Syrah, Grenache, as well as the native varieties Moristel and Parraleta. In terms of white varieties grown in the region, Chardonnay accounts for 14% of grapes grown in the region, followed by Macabeo, Garnacha Blanca, Alcañón, Gewurtztraminer, Riesling and Sauvignon Blanc.

In fact, the more traditional variety of this vineyard was always the Moristel; a red grape with which very typical pink and red wines were produced, which should not be confused with or Mourvèdre Monastrell, red strain widely cultivated in Spanish east and south of France.

Although most of the oldest vineyard still planted with the red varieties Moristel (1.95% of the vineyard), Parraleta (0.72%), Tempranillo (11,30%) and white Macabeo (2.46%), the wide collection of international varieties framed most of the vineyard and varietal make up the structure of today's modern wines Somontano.

Somontano Wines and Wineries

Although the DO Somotano is one of the smaller wine regions in Spain, it is definitely one of the most dynamic. Since the 90s, major investment in the technology used has radically changed the image of Somontano, and the oenological progress has also found natural conditions suitable for producing quality wines with fine international varieties, such as Chardonnay from Burgundy, Gewürztraminer, Spanish Tempranillo and Cabernet Sauvignon from Bordeaux.

One of the most emblematic wineries of the region is Blecua. The winery belongs to Viñas del Vero and opened back in July 2000. Blecua is home to 14 hectares of vineyards and finds itself in a beautiful restored house dating from the late eleventh century, known locally as the ‘torre Blecua’ (Blecua tower), which was formerly used as a retreat by French Benedictine monks of Sante Fe de Conques. Here they produce one of their most prominent wines, Blecua. A red wine, in a Bordeaux in all aspects, born under the philosophy that a wine is created from the selection of 3 important things, the vineyard, grapes and barrel. With this philosophy, they have managed to consistently contain exceptional, unique and limited production wines.

Bodegas Pirineos, founded back in 1993, the history of this winery is connected to one of the oldest cooperatives in Somontano, which still counts on the participation and collaboration of 200 vinters, although 76% of the company is currently owned by Bodegas Barbadillo. The winery puts focus on preserving and taking advantage of native grape varieties, such as Macabeo, Moristel and Parraleta, as well as enhancing foreign varieties such as Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay. And it is precisely this mix of varieties that provides its uniqueness and personality wines. Produces more than a dozen wines, with outstanding brands Alquézar, Montesierra, Lazán Manor, and his signature wine Marboré, whose name evokes one of the mountain peaks in the Aragonese Pyrenees, and merges European varieties with native varieties.

Bodegas Vinas del Vero, founded back in 1986, this winery began by replanting typical grape varieties of the region along with newer foreign varieties. A year later in 1987, the winery acquired the San Marcos estate where it started building the wineries current facilities, which opened in 1993. Today the winery works with over 1,000 hectares of vineyards, of which 750 are owned by the vineyard. Special mention deserve their red Secastilla, made from old vines Grenache mountain recovered and La Miranda de Secastilla, made with Grenache, Syrah and Parraleta grown in this unique Secastilla Valley, which reflects the unique terroir from which it comes.

Bestué Otto, founded in 1999, is a relatively modern winery, although it has a family history linked to viticulture that spans back centuries. This winery currently owns 45 hectares of vineyards in the Santa Sabina, La Mezquita, Finca Rableros, El Plano and Sierra farms, all very close to the winery, where they grow Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Tempranillo, Syrah and Chardonnay. The winery produces many wines, including Bestué Blanco, Rosé and Tinto, and two single estate reds, Finca Rableros, and the Finca Santa Sabina, both of with a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Tempranillo.

Bodegas de Beroz is one of the latest projects led by Mariano Beroz with the support of his children, friends and professional vintners. The winery produces wines in facilities home to some of the most  advanced technology. Bodegas de Beroz produces quality wines that are sold under the labels De Beroz Esencia Tintos y Blancos, blend of Chardonnay and Gewürztraminer and De Beroz Roble, a blend of Cabernet, Merlot, Tempranillo and Moristel and matured for 6 months in oak.

The Enate winery is characterised as light, aseptic and functional. Here, it seems that their new concepts have their best allies in the design and form, inspiring their facilities which are drawn with a spectacular geometric precision. The winery produces a large range of white, rosé and red wines, both single variety and blended, which are all given a unique touch with individual artwork on their labels. Among their wines includes Enate Chardonnay-234 and Enate Chardonnay Fermentado en Barrica. A classic produced by the winery is Enate Rosado, made exclusively with Cabernet Sauvignon grapes. The winery is also know for their 2 young red wines Tapas and Enate Cabernet-Merlot, although their most commercially successful wines are: Enate Crianza, a blend of Tempranillo and Cabernet Sauvignon, aged for 9 months in oak; and Enate Reserva, a single variety Cabernet Sauvignon which is aged for 12 months in oak barrels. Their special selection of single variety reds also deserve a special mention: Merlot Enate-Melot, Enate Syrah-Shiraz and Enate Cabernet-Cabernet, which are aged 13, 16 and 18 months of aging respectively. During the best vintages, the winery produces their Enate Special Reserve, a blend of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon and aged for 18months in French oak barrels, made in true Bordeaux style.