With the purchase of Bodegas Irius in 2014, the Costa family, owners of a major Aragonese agri-food group, brought a new lease of life and a new name to this winery, which was founded in Somontano in 2000. This was followed in 2016 by a second purchase in Calatayud, Vinae Mureri, which was renamed Sommos Garnacha.
With around three million bottles and 350 hectares of vineyards, Sommos is one of the main players in Somontano, second only to Viñas del Vero in terms of the amount of grapes processed.
Located in Barbastro, the winery is easily recognised by the striking glass and steel building designed by architect Jesús Marino Pascual, who was inspired by the shape of the 2,912-metre Cotiella mountain in the Pyrenees.
The winery, which descends to a depth of 27 metres, is designed to operate by gravity. Technology is used throughout, including optical sorting tables and crane-driven stainless steel vats that avoid the need for pumping.
The vineyards are spread over three different areas. Finca Torresalas is the largest, covering 155 hectares around the winery. It is planted to Chardonnay, Gewurztraminer, Pinot Noir and Tempranillo on gypsum-rich soils. Finca Montesa, with 100 hectares under vine, lies at the base of Sierra de Guara on clay soils rich in carbonate deposits. A dry-farmed vineyard, it is planted to international grapes such as Merlot, Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon, many of which are destined for the premium Sommos Colección range. There are a further 100 hectares in the village of Güel, a rugged northerly area close to 1000m elevation with soils rich in fossils and conglomerates, suitable for white varieties such as Sauvignon Blanc and Garnacha Blanca.
The most widely planted varieties at Sommos are Chardonnay and Gewurztraminer for the white wines, and Merlot and Cabernet for the reds.
The winery produces around 20 wines, starting with the young Glárima entry-level range, followed by an unoaked rosé made from Merlot and Cabernet, and two wines aged for a short time: a Chardonnay and a red blend of Merlot and Cabernet. A step up are two traditionally aged wines in the Crianza and Reserva categories (both made from Cabernet and Syrah with the addition of Merlot in the case of the Crianza and Tempranillo for the Reserva) and Varietales, a series of blends with shorter ageing times: Chardonnay, Gewurztraminer and Pinot Noir in white and Syrah, Garnacha and Tempranillo in reds.
The premium range, Sommos Colección, consists of varietal wines from virtually all the grapes grown on the estate: Gewürztraminer, Sauvignon Blanc, Garnacha Blanca, Tempranillo, Merlot, Cabernet, Syrah and Pinot Noir. Production ranges from 4,700 bottles for the rich, smoky Chardonnay (€35) to 80,000 for the Gewürztraminer (€13.50), which is aged briefly in oak barrels. The Garnacha Blanca (9,200 bottles, €13.50) is really interesting: a great value white with a consistent mouthfeel that gains complexity after a few months in bottle. Among the reds, the richness of the Merlot contrasts with the subtle, recognisable profile of the Pinot Noir (both priced around €18.5), while the fuller-bodied Cabernet and the Tempranillo (€26.50) show full ripeness. In the same price range, the finely textured Syrah offers a fresh, balanced expression.
Sommos Premium is the ultra-premium red. The ripe, powerful style was developed by the previous owners and has continued in the international markets where it is appreciated. Approximately 30% of the wines are sold abroad.
With 20,000 visitors a year, the winery is strongly focused on wine tourism. It has its own wine bar and restaurant, is open all year round except for Christmas and special dates, and offers guided tours in Spanish, English and French. In addition to the standard tasting, there are also a number of wine and food pairing options. The vineyards can be explored by Segway or electric bicycle. Seasonal activities include a pruning and barbecue day in the vineyard, manual or night harvesting experiences and sunset tastings.
