Somontano: eight names to know
BLECUA
While owned by and right next to Viñas del Vero, this is a wholly different project. The property was first recorded in the
11th century; the 19th- century house on the estate is an anachronism, modelled on an Italian estate. The focus here is on just one wine, with the intention of creating a single, long-aged reserve style, similar to Rioja but with a marked signature of Somontano.
ENATE
Despite only starting to make wines in 1992, Enate now owns 450ha of vineyards, has a 4,000-barrel cellar and produces at least 15 different wines, which are exported to more than 50 countries. It also owns Bodega Laus. Very much open for enotourism visits, it has also curated an art gallery for visitors to view.
FABREGAS
Established in what was a distillery from the early 20th century, this is one of the newer wineries to have embraced local varieties such as Moristel, as well as Garnacha in both red and white variants. As one of the wineries embracing enotourism, it offers a unique ‘ Moristel Experience’ so that visitors can better understand this recuperated variety.
LALANNE
One of the original wineries upon which modern Somontano is based, it is owned by the same Lalanne family that originally came from Bordeaux in the late 19th century. They’re still making a classic style of wines, with a focus on long ageing for the top expressions. These reflect their respective origins by blending French grapes with the region’s local grapes.
OBERGO
A very different project, with vineyards located in the higher altitude region of Secastilla. While it makes use of as many different grape varieties as other wineries in the region, its main focus is on Garnacha and making wine from smaller, singular parcels found around the region, especially with old vines.
OTTO BESTUE
The family lays claim to a long history as viticulturists in the region, all the way back to 1640, in fact. In 1990, the father-and-son team (both named Lorenzo) created the modern winery. The focus drifts towards a sturdier, more tannic style of wine, and theirs is one of the few cellars in Somontano that pulls this off quite well.
SOMMOS
This winery is unmissable when you approach Barbastro, thanks to its very modern architecture, jutting out of the rolling hills covered in neat rows of vines. In six short years, Sommos has gone from basically nothing to become one of the four main wineries in the region, taking in 3,000 tonnes of grapes annually and producing 20 different wines.
VINAS DEL VERO
With an annual production of six million bottles (the largest in Somontano) and a dizzying array of wine categories and types, Viñas del Vero truly has something for everyone. Its ability to produce styles ranging from approachable rosés or whites to delicate Garnachas from higher altitude vineyards around Secastilla has made it a leader in the region.