Somontano
Denominación de Origen Protegida (DOP) | |
Year established | 1984 |
---|---|
Country | Spain |
No. of vineyards | 3,931 hectares (9,714 acres) |
No. of wineries | 31[2] |
Wine produced | 184,449 hectolitres |
Comments | Data for 2016 / 2017 |
Somontano is a Spanish
Geography
The DOP has three different sub-zones: the Mountains, the Somontano foothills proper, and the Plains. The Alcanadre river divides the Somontano area into two: Somontano de Huesca in the West and Somontano de Barbastro in the East. The vines here enjoy a dark sandy-clay soil, particularly high in lime content and rich in alluvial matter. The soil is not especially fertile, but has good drainage which facilitates the deep penetration of roots so they can absorb more moisture and nutrients. The region's climate is continental, with the Pyrenees mountains buffering exposure to the cold northern winds. Nonetheless, winter freezes are common, as are extremely high temperatures in the summer. On a daily basis, temperatures also fluctuate significantly between day and night. Average rainfall is 500 mm.
History
Grapes have been grown in the Somontano region since antiquity, at least since the 2nd century BC, their cultivation being influenced by the settlement of the Romans, as they introduced more advanced techniques. In the Middle Ages, the area covered by vineyards expanded to cover the whole province, with wine production prospering under the oversight of local monasteries. More recently, the phylloxera plague which struck France in the 19th century, resulted in exports and increased sales of Somontano wine from the region.
Tourism
The Ruta del Vino (Wine Route) of Somontano is one of the 13 official wine routes recognised by ACEVIN and the Spanish government, and its aim is to promote wine-related tourism to the region. As a non-profit organisation it offers promotional support to tourism establishments and wineries and offers unbiased information to visitors and tourists.
In addition to wine, other attractions in Somontano include:
- The Sierra de Guara National Park - famous for the sport of canyoning
- The medieval village of Alquézar
- The River Vero Cultural Park - home to a collection of over 60 cave paintings, jointly declared as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO
- The Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillarof Zaragoza on the Marian Route
- The city of Barbastro
Around half of the 31 wineries in Somontano welcome visitors and most can offer guided tours in Spanish, English and French. A visit includes a tour of the installations with explanations followed by a wine tasting.
Authorised Grape Varieties
The authorised grape varieties are:
- Red: Pinot Noir, Syrah, and Tempranillo
- White: Sauvignon Blanc
References
- ^ "Denominación de Origen Protegida "Somontano"". www.mapa.gob.es. Retrieved 14 January 2020.
- ^ "D.O. Somontano". www.dosomontano.com. Retrieved 14 January 2020.