In the Sierra de Guara, the vineyards are an integral part of the landscape and the region’s identity, blending agricultural tradition with nature.
In 1984, this link between the region and its vineyards received official recognition with the creation of the Somontano Protected Designation of Origin, which covers an area that is small in size but immense in character. Its limestone-rich, poor soils, altitude (350–700 m) and stark temperature contrasts explain the freshness and balance of its wines. Traditional varieties such as Moristel, Garnacha and Macabeo coexist with varieties that have adapted wonderfully—Cabernet, Merlot, Syrah, Chardonnay, Gewürztraminer—making Somontano one of the most versatile wine regions in the country.
The sensory profile of Somontano was further expanded on 11 November 2025, when the European Union officially registered the new Protected Designation of Origin Aceite del Somontano, a recognition that reinforces the value of the product in Barbastro and the surrounding area. Its aromatic profile is defined by intense green fruit notes —olive, grass, leaf, almond, tomato— without astringency.
This new label adds to the prestige of the wine and coincides with progress towards the Tomate Rosa also having its own quality mark, consolidating the region as a benchmark in the agri-food sector.
Against this backdrop, wine tourism really comes into its own: a trip to Somontano means visiting wineries, strolling through vineyards at the foot of the mountains, discovering futuristic architecture, stepping inside family-run wineries where they still work just as they did a century ago… and letting the landscape seep into your glass.
This is where our tour begins.
We set off from Barbastro, the capital of the Somontano region, home to many of the wineries that have made this name famous across the globe. A few minutes away, in Salas Bajas, lies Enate, which since 1991 has championed a clear philosophy: minimal intervention in the vineyard and a deep connection between wine and contemporary art. Its labels act as a bridge between winemakers and artists; its meticulous work —backed by international certifications— proves that excellence is no accident.
On our return to Barbastro, we are welcomed by Lalanne, one of the veterans of the region. Its history begins in Bordeaux in 1842 and continues in Barbastro since 1894, when phylloxera forced the family to cross the Pyrenees with cuttings of Cabernet, Merlot or Chardonnay grafted onto American rootstock. Six generations later, they continue to produce wine from the vineyard using methods that have been remain faithful to the ones brought by their ancestors.
The landscape changes as we arrive at LAUS. A young winery (founded in 2002), nestled amongst lakes and vineyards, where minimalist architecture and nature interact seamlessly. Its vines, at an altitude of between 350 and 400 metres, grow on limestone and stony soils, producing balanced whites, rosés and reds.
Just nearby stands an extraordinary structure: SOMMOS, internationally recognised as one of the architectural wonders of the wine world. Its gravity-fed production process, night-time harvesting and optical selection of individual grapes reveal a healthy obsession with precision. Concrete tanks, French oak vats, bespoke technology… pure avant-garde in the heart of the Somontano.
We move from the future to the past without leaving Barbastro. Bodegas Fábregas, founded in 1883, is a living part of Somontano’s history. From selling wine in bulk to France during the phylloxera crisis, it went on to play a key role in the creation of the Somontano Designation of Origin in the 1980s. The winery’s history also reflects the constant contribution of women from different generations, who have played a decisive role in its development. Today, the fourth and fifth generations work together.
We move on to an artisanal project: Cabecita Loca, originally known as Zinca bín de Ric. In 2014, Víctor and Isabel revived a family winery in Almunia de San Juan and joined forces with Pablo and Bea, from Montesa, to produce wines with minimal intervention. This collaboration gave rise to new creations and, later, a winery in Barbastro where they also produce wine-based drinks. As members of Vignerons de Huesca, they champion the triple A: farmer, artisan, artist.
Our route continues to Bodega Pirineos, a prime example of a collective venture: over 150 winegrowers and some 700 hectares spread across twenty or so villages underpin this project, which was formally established in 1993 following on from the regional cooperative founded in 1964. The winery works to preserve local varieties such as Moristel and collaborates on projects linked to climate change in the Pyrenees.
Just a few metres away lies Viñas del Vero, founded in 1986 and named after the River Vero, which flows through the Sierra y los Cañones de Guara Natural Park. With over 1,000 hectares spread across 125 estates and 14 different grape varieties, it has played a key role in putting the Somontano region on the map beyond its borders. Tradition and innovation come together to create balanced, expressive and distinctive wines.
Leaving Barbastro behind, the route takes us to Lascellas, where IDRIAS cultivates some 70 hectares of its own vineyards around the winery, organised into traditional vineyard plots: Alfez, Turmos and Las Planas. Each plot—and its sub-plots—is vinified separately to highlight its individual character. Limestone soils, altitude (around 550 m) and a climate of contrasts produce wines with character; oenological intervention is minimal.
In the same town, Bodegas Abinasa occupies part of one of the oldest inns in Aragón, founded in 1778. Aniseed liqueurs and spirits were produced there long before Ana Lascellas, their most famous wine, was created. Today, tradition and modernity coexist alongside a façade that has become iconic thanks to a large-scale mural. In addition to wine, they produce vermouth and liqueurs, and the restaurant La Posada completes the experience.
The route can end here or continue. The Sierra de Guara invites you to stay a while, to keep exploring, and to let the landscape and the wine set the pace.
