Changing face

Year 10, No. 8

Greetings,

Two weeks ago, I went up to the Denomination of Origin Somontano. For those who love languages, it's an interesting name that derives from Aragonés to mean, "under the mountain". Evocative for sure, but outside of Spain, few know of this region as most sales and enotourism visits are quite local. But I have the theory that it may remain off many a wine drinker's radar as Somontano is currently "changing face".

While previously known as a majority red region with a good amount of rosé for kicks (like nearby DO Navarra), the 2020 harvest saw 44% of their total grapes come in as white varieties. The reason, is because they work.

I generally say standoffish things about Chardonnay south of the Pyrénées, but the producers in Somontano are making some delicious wines with this Burgundian grape, as well as its Alsatian northern partner in arms, Riesling. Who would have known?

As we get into the final stretches of 2020, it's shown us that we need to keep changing and evolving to confro…