Somontano

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Somontano DOP is a Spanish wine region in the province of Huesca, Aragon. It was created in 1984 and is centered around Barbastro. The DOP covers 43 municipalities and borders Sobrarbe and Ribagorza to the north, Hoya de Huesca to the west, Monegros to the south, and La Litera to the east.

The name Somontano means “beneath the mountain.” The vines stretch from the Pyrenees foothills down to the Ebro valley. There are three sub-zones: the Mountains, the Somontano foothills, and the Plains. The Alcanadre river divides the area into Somontano de Huesca (west) and Somontano de Barbastro (east). Soils are dark sandy-clay with high lime and alluvial material; they aren’t very fertile but drain well, helping vines grow deep.

The climate is continental, with the Pyrenees sheltering the region from cold winds. Winters can bring frost, summers are very hot, and there are big day-to-night temperature swings. Rainfall is about 500 mm a year. About 3,931 hectares of vines are planted, with around 500 grape growers and 31 wineries. In 2016/2017, production was about 184,449 hectolitres.

Wine history in Somontano goes back to ancient times, with Roman influence and later growth under monasteries in the Middle Ages. The phylloxera outbreaks in the 19th century helped boost exports. The Ruta del Vino (Wine Route) is one of 13 official wine routes in Spain, promoting wine tourism and providing information and support to visitors.

Wineries welcome visitors in many cases—about half of the 31 offer guided tours in Spanish, English, or French, including a tour of the facilities and a wine tasting.

The DOP allows a variety of grape types to be grown in the region.