Spanish Wine Regions > Somontano
Practice makes perfect! This is what we could say about this wine region. Somontano offers very interesting wines resulting from years of trying and perfecting the blend between classic Spanish grapes and some of the best know foreign varieties. The reds of this area have a similarity to the wines from Rioja but with less oak, a fact that gives them the edge that we expect today in a modern wine. Somontano has a great variety of whites wines from Chardonnays to Gewurztraminer or Macabeo, all of them very good.
Wine region's location
This D.O. is situated on a high plateau in the central area of the province of Huesca, Aragon, in beautiful surroundings between the foothills of the Pyrenees and the Ebro Valley. Somontano has gained its name and reputation on the basis of private initiatives by certain wineries interested in nursery work. They have obtained very interesting results from white wines made from grapes like Chardonnay and Geburztraminer and reds like Tempranillo, Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot. Somontano is a modern D.O. that offers first quality wines that are finding their place in the world market at a remarkable speed. Quite mild continental climate, due to the barrier created by the Pyrenees, which protects them from the cold northerly winds.
Wine characteristics
White Wines
The traditional whites of this D.O. have a high percentage
of Macabeo, which is good for young wines. They are a good
yellow colour, fresh and easy to drink. As an exception to
the rule, we have the Macabeo late harvest that gives a rare
complexity to this white wine.
Rose Wines
Made with Tempranillo, Merlot or Cabernet Sauvignon,
they follow the line of modern roses with raspberry colours,
good fruit intensity and are light, fresh and easy to drink.
Red Wines
The traditional red wine of this D.O. is produced with Moristel
and Tempranillo grapes making it fruity and intense. There
also some good examples of wines produced with single grapes
like Parraleta creating a young wine with an excellent fruity
character. The rest of reds are usually mixed with Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot, all with strong aromas and in the cases
of Crianzas and Reservas, well balanced due to the wood barrels.
Grapes
White GrapesMacabeo
White Grenache
Alcanon
Chardonnay
Geburztraminer
Red Grapes
Moristel
Tempranillo
Grenache
Merlot
Cabernet Sauvignon
Pinot Noir
Syrah
Facts & Figures
Area: 4, 371 ha
Average yearly temperature:
11 Celsius
Average yearly water fall:
600 mm
