Ruta del Vino Somontano

This act has been subscribed to by those responsible for the Somontano Tourism Promotion Association and representatives of different associations, groups and bodies of the region.

The president of the Somontano Tourism Promotion Association, Antonio Cosculluela, the President of the Somontano Regional Council, Jaime Facerías and the President of the DO Somontano Regulatory Council, D. Mariano Beroz, have subscribed to the pact – alongside representatives from business associations, consumers, syndicates and bodies such as the Somontano Development Centre, the Open University of Barnastro and the Fairs and Conventions Institution – to convert the Somontano Wine Route into a Socially Responsible Wine Tourism Region.

This commitment has come about as a result of the project ““Working Towards a Model of Competition, Sustainability and Management in a Rural Environment: Socially Responsible Wine Tourism” promoted by the Ministry for the Environment and Rural and Marine Affairs and ACEVIN (Association of Wine Cities.)  The Somontano Wine Route participates in these projects alongside twenty other Spanish wine regions and aims to boost a model of tourism management that preserves the rural environment, natural resources and cultural heritage, while at the same time benefitting all entities involved in its development therefore creating a common strategy. 

The President of the Somontano Wine Route, Antonio Cosculluela, said “this pact brings together the conclusions of the workshop held in July, in which the subscribers put forward and prioritised their vision of actions that could be undertaken by the Somontano Wine Route within the realms of improvement and respect of the environment, social and cultural values of the territory and a generation of wealth and employment.”

The actions highlight the importance   of areas of outstanding natural beauty; the development of activities that minimise the impact on the environment; training of young people to improve their chances of incorporation into the job market; the creation of synergy with the agri-food sector; the creation of campaigns and communication activity to attract tourists; the search of help and sponsorship and the organisation of workshops with the aim of product creation and their sale.

As mentioned by Cosculluela “with the signing of this pact, the Somontano Wine Route is committed to carry out the majority of actions proposed within its work plan and will ensure that Somontano consolidates its position as a Socially Responsible Wine Region.”  That is to say, a region that achieves a balance between economic, social, environmental and cultural aspects of local life while aiming for a better standard of life for its citizens and the organisations, associations and bodies that drive its development.

In this sense, many actions of this nature have already been carried out.  President of the Somontano Regional Council, Jaime Fecerías, highlighted this fact by saying “the content of the actions detailed in the pact confirms the commitment of the Somontano Wine Route towards sustainable development as many of the highlighted actions have already been carried out or are currently underway.”  Examples include the integration of the agri-food sector to the wine route with olive oil mills and dairies; the educational offer for professionals associated; publicity campaigns and visitor loyalty schemes.

The president of the DO Somontano Regulatory Council, Mariano Beroz, has insisted that the pact has an added interest because “it’s useful to be able to organise new courses, actions and educational workshops for the establishments of the Somontano Wine Route.”  Many of these have already taken place such as the course “What can the Internet do for my Business,” the seminar “Creation of Products and Tourism Commercialisation” delivered by Alicia Estrada, responsible for marketing for GEBTA in Spain.  Other proposals will be carried out over the year to come.