Somontano
produces wines of excellent quality, due to the appropriate combination
of sunshine and rain, from a generous land with centuries of tradition and
the latest technologies.
Vine growing has its origin in Roman times, and was maintained with the
medieval monasteries and was finally established in modern times. The territory
was specialized to such an extent that wine production would even condition
the structure and distribution of the typical Somontano house.
It's intended a simple itinerary that
can be carried out in car, through which will be possible to know new landscapes,
where the vineyard is the main character.
The starting point is the capital of the Somontano, Barbastro. Here it can
be visited the Space of the Wine and the Centre of Interpretation of the
Somontano, integrated both in San Julián's Group. It is also the
headquarters of the Council Regulator of Somontano's Origin Denomination.
In this same place there is a store, in which is possible to acquire anyone
of the excellent wines elaborated by the cellars and handmade alimentary
products.
We should leave Barbastro in direction to Huesca, to take the highway A-1232
toward Alquézar and Salas Altas. While slowly goes back the wide
valley of the river Vero they can be seen the first vineyards, although
in these lands they continue prevailed the vegetable garden cultivations.
When arriving to the crossing of highways in which we will take the one
that goes to Salas Bajas, it can be said that we are in the centre of the
wine-growing area of the Somontano, because it was in this place where the
first commercial productions of the wines of the Somontano began. Some of
the cellars that here exist they offer guided visits to their equipments.
Salas Bajas are the following of our destinations. Observing the facades
of their houses numerous architectural elements can be appreciated that
respond to the linking that their inhabitants have always had with the wine.
The stone footing at the base of these constructions insulated the interior
from the abrupt changes in temperature, providing ideal places for the fermentation,
storage and ageing of wines.
Next to the town centre of Salas Bajas we find the cellars Enate that also
has a service of guided visits.
Also Salas Altas offers numerous elements of interest, being associate many
of them to the culture of the wine. A great number of houses have a window
opened up in the baseboard, in the main facade. Through her the grapes hurtled
to the "lagar" or "trujar" to prepare the must. Once
fermented, the wine was stored in the cellars.
Around this population they can be carried out two simple didactic itinerary,
on foot or in bicycle, of 12 km each one; they are denominated Ruta Candelera
and Route of the Vineyards, integrated in the net of paths of the Somontano
of Barbastro GR 45.
We will leave Salas Altas behind to continue the route toward the population
of Hoz de Barbastro, from where it can be enjoyed an excellent panoramic
of the whole half sector of the Somontano.
Already returning toward Barbastro we will go into again in the lands dominated
by the vineyard. Oaks, almond trees and old olive groves still enrich more
these typically Mediterranean landscapes. In this area are the populations
of Montesa, Cregenzán and Burceat.
But this route doesn't conclude in Barbastro neither in any place in short,
because they are many cellars and vineyards distributed by the varied geography
of the Somontano. Also Ponzano, Lascellas, Radiquero, Costean, Enate, Castejon
del Puente, Monesma de San Juan and Estadilla, have important cellars of
the D.O. Somontano, where excellent wines are elaborated waiting to be taste
for demanding palates and experts of the good one to make of their producers.
Tienda del Centro de San Julián Foto: CEDER Somontano
Campo de vid Foto: Mariano Olivera - Comarca del Somontano
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