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Somontano won its DO status in 1984 after a long struggle by local growers, and ever since it has produced impressive results. The vineyards, located in the foothills of the Aragonese Pyrenees, have an ideal altitude and climate as well as an interesting range of grape varieties and wineries intent on making unique, high-quality wines. The excellent results obtained are reflected in the attitude of the domestic and international market, which have created a demand for these products - elegant, structured, and in many cases, suitable for long life .
The wines, made from thirteen native and foreign grape varieties, have a refreshing lightness and delicacy, and show the efforts undertaken by the local bodegas and their willingness to experiment. This has been one of the keys to the DO’s success and to the creation of critical and sales success.
Since the DO's early days, numerous new brands of wines and new wineries have emerged , all of which have helped to promote the DO's consolidation. As a result, exports have doubled since 1995. One of the identifying characteristics of the wines of this region is the blending of new and old grape varieties . Somontano has evolved significantly in the past decade: it is now capable of competing with the great Spanish classics.
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Fact file
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CRDO address:
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Avda de la Merced, 64
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22300 Barbastro
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Huesca
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Spain
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DO established
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30OCT84
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Last updated
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JUN-2008
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Telephone
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+34-974-313-031
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Fax
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+34-974-315-132
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E-mail
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somontano@dosomontano.com
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Website
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www.dosomontano.com
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Vineyards:
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Subzones
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-
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Area under vine
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4,682.10 ha
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Area in full production
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88.95%
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Altitude of vineyards
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350-650 m
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Soil types
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The vineyards of Somontano are mainly set on brown lime soils over soft materials, which allow the vine roots penetration. They are low fertility soils, with an adequate limestone level, good permeability and good health conditions, so allowing obtaining quality wine productions
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Principal grapes (w)
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Macabeo, Garnacha Blanca, Alcañón, Chardonnay and Gewürztraminer
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Principal grapes (r)
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Moristel, Tempranillo, Garnacha Tinta, Parraleta, Cabernet-Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Noir and Syrah
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Permitted grapes (w)
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-
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Permitted grapes (r)
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-
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Experimental grapes (w)
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-
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Experimental grapes (r)
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-
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Organic viticulture
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34.057 ha
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Climate:
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Max. summer temp.
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40°C
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Min. winter temp.
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-10°C
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Average rainfall
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500 mm annually
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Average sunshine
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2,700 hours annually
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Production:
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Maximum crop
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8,000 kg/ha (red); 9,000 kg/ha (white)
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Yield
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70%
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Equivalent hl/ha
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56,00 hl/ha (red) and 63,00 hl/ha (white)
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Production 2001 (hl)
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84,283.00
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Production 2002 (hl)
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100,667.00
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Production 2003 (hl)
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135,307.00
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Production 2004 (hl)
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165,631.00
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Production 2005 (hl)
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115,158.00
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Production 2006 (hl)
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139,111.00
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Production 2007(hl)
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156,363.00
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Wine alcohol content:
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White
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Min 10% abv, max 13.5% abv
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Pink
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Min 11% abv, max 13.5% abv
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Red
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Min 11.5% abv, max 14% abv
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Other
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Sparkling - min 10% abv, max 13.5% abv (Nowadays, we don’t make this wines)
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Ageing in oak:
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Crianza (Red Wines)
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Minimal ripeness: 24 months (released 01-Dec vintage)
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Reserva (Red Wines)
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Minimal ripeness: 36 months. 12 months oak (released 01-Dec vintage)
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Gran Reserva (Red Wines)
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Minimal ripeness: 60 months 24 months oak, 36 months bottle (released 01-Dec vintage)
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Reserva (Rosé and White Wines)
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Minimal ripeness: 24 months: 6 months oak (released 01-Dec. Vintage).
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Gran Reserva (Rosé and White Wines)
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Minimal ripeness: 48 months: 6 months oak (released 01-Dec. Vintage)
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Wineries:
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Number of Wineries
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33
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Total exports - 2001 (hl)
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18,536.74
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Total exports - 2002 (hl)
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14,574.15
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Total exports - 2003 (hl)
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16,042.19
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Total exports - 2004 (hl)
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18,748.31
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Total exports - 2005 (hl)
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18,748.31
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Total exports - 2006(hl)
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18,748.31
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Total exports - 2007 (hl)
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22,295.00
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