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It is a truly distinctive wine region in Spain, for many reasons. First, because it showcases a wide variety of international grape varieties, whereas other Spanish wine regions often focus on a single Iberian variety as their hallmark. Second, because of its geographical setting: nestled between the Pyrenees and the Monegros Desert, its wines display a striking balance born of this duality—aromatic richness and freshness achieved thanks to a significant diurnal temperature range. Landscapes with spectacular graphic lines and stone villages ranked among the most beautiful in Spain blend gracefully with the vineyards. Follow the wine route and its fifteen or so wineries open to the public to discover outstanding wines.
The beating heart of the appellation is the charming town of Barbastro, packed with tapas bars and fine restaurants. You unwind on arrival over a glass of local red wine (€1.50 to €2.50 a glass!) paired with excellent tapas and artisanal charcuterie. Start at “Iber Tapa” (C. Caballeros, 27), then hop from bar to bar—each with its own atmosphere and specialties.
A major culinary favourite is the locals’ well-known restaurant “Bodega Del Vero” (C. Romero, 13), a place full of charm with refined, terroir-driven cooking. Tucked away in the basement of the grocery–delicatessen–greengrocer upstairs, the restaurant—romantic fireplace, vintage décor—offers, beyond unforgettable cured meats and cheeses, outstanding family-style dishes (and the best vegetables you’ll ever taste), along with, of course, an extensive wine list.
For local specialties with a modern, “fooding”-style twist, head to the pocket-sized bar “L’Usuella” (C. Escuelas Pías, 18), where chef Jorge Zanuy awaits behind the counter to treat you to reinvented tapas. Subtle and smart, the pairings with Somontano wines echo and elevate one another beautifully.
Finally, the fine-dining restaurant Trasiego (Conjunto de San Julián y Santa Lucía, Av. de la Merced, 64), tucked behind its wine bar, serves a delicious seasonal cuisine that spotlights local produce (oxtail cannelloni, Aragón I.G.P. lamb shoulder, or caramelised torrija…).
A first itinerary takes you along the Río Vero footbridge route: a series of suspended walkways running beside picturesque gorges and cliffs, overlooking torrents of turquoise water. Several trails ripple around the fortified medieval village of Alquézar, perched at nearly 700 metres above sea level. You can begin admiring it from the viewpoint above; it is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Gothic porches and arcades, callizos (covered alleyways), cobbled streets, ancient gates, and the Chapel of Our Lady of the Snows—breathtaking.
The other must-do circuit leads to its beating heart: the village of Aínsa. After a hike with seemingly endless views through the golden canyons of the Puértolas Gorge—an early hint of the Pyrenees—you make your way to this romantic medieval village encircled by ramparts, also voted among the most beautiful in Spain. Former capital of the Kingdom of Sobrarbe, it was founded in the 11th century and is one of the rare villages that has endured in this chain of mountains cut off from the world.
Notes of fennel, anise, vanilla, peach, and exotic fruits weave through the wine’s mineral tones. On the palate, it is beautifully balanced and fresh, with a beeswax-like texture and a hint of bitterness on the finish that adds length.
The oenologist’s secret blend still gives itself away: its pronounced terpene notes suggest a significant proportion of Riesling. These are joined by aromas of candied orange, guava and mango, and a striking vibrancy.
Very old vines—over 85 years of age—produce this deep wine with notes of pepper, cumin, sweet spices, and black cherry. Highly elegant, with flax-like tannins: finely chiselled and complex.
The nose is intensely peppery with a hint of balsamic lift, opening onto notes of ripe blueberries. The palate is dense yet supple, highly aromatic.
The nose is fragrant and delicate, and the palate is juicy and fruit-forward, with flax-like tannins.
This equal-parts Syrah–Grenache blend is remarkably elegant: notes of pepper and liquorice intertwine with dark berries, and the palate is generous yet delicate.
A wine with pronounced notes of dark chocolate, coffee, and cherry—concentrated, rich, and gently suave on the palate. It shows great elegance and an intriguing ageing potential.
