Vilas del Turbón

The source is located in a valley stretching at the feet of Mount Turbón, in the North East of the Huesca province, in the village of Las Vilas, between the valleys of Esera and Isabena, some 1,975 m above sea level.

In 1908, Mr. Manuel Camo, a chemist and a neighbor of Huesca, perceived the great fame and name enjoyed by these waters in the area and was convinced of their therapeutical efficiency. So he began to write a report to declare them of public utility. Since then, the affluence of visitors started to increase and it also spread enormously the fame of the waters, past the local areas and starting to extend over the neighboring provinces. By 1932, a hotel was built and the access was improved, so automobiles could get there after a picturesque drive. It was finally declared as Mineral Medicinal water in 1958 (BOE Nº 120).

From the village to the spring was a four-hour journey along a rough mule track. Despite the dangers of the trip, all the peasants in the region were happy to defy the risks and discomfort in order to spend a few days near the spring.

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The increasing number of visitors and the solid reputation of results that took place determined, already by 1931, the creation of a business company that attempted its exploitation. This company carried out the first hygienic capturing of the water and it built the first premises, in which those first bottling operations were carried out.

Recently, Grupo COBEGA, S.A., a company of great prestige and a long tradition in the bottling and distribution of carbonic drinks, has purchased the fountain, thus starting an integral process of industrial and technological renovation, aiming to position the new water Vilas del Turbón as the number one National Gourmet Water in the market. The Grupo Cobega logo provides the reliability and guarantee needed for such a business adventure.

Koscher Certification

On 3rd March 2008 Vilas Del Turbón was certified as Kosher by the rabbinate of the Barcelona Jewish community.

What does Kosher certification involve? Kosher is the equivalent in English of the Hebrew word meaning fit or suitable. It refers to the Jewish religious laws on diet which determine which foods may be considered fit for consumption. These rules, interpreted and expanded over the centuries, determine precisely which foodstuffs may be considered pure, i.e. in compliance with the precepts of the religion, and which may not. The kosher certification received by certain food products shows that they abide by the precepts laid down and can therefore be considered pure and fit to be consumed by members of the religion. In recent years this certification has also become an additional guarantee of the purity and quality of the foodstuffs to which it applies.

Kosher mineral water is subjected to a highly rigorous process which does not allow the use of chemical additives, and stipulates that the machinery used in the bottling plant must be used exclusively for the certified natural mineral water.

Vilas del Turbón natural mineral water is from a source deep down and emerges in a spring, where it is collected without coming into contact with the air. An underground protective perimeter prevents any contact with surface water or outside agents from above ground, so that it retains and guarantees all its purity.

Superior Taste Award

Vilas del Turbón water achieves the highest qualification in the Superior Taste Award. The purpose of the International Taste & Quality Institute (iTQi), an independent organisation of chefs and sommeliers, is to "judge, award and promote" food. Every year, the organisation honours foods and beverages of superior quality and flavour with the "Superior Taste Award". The iTQi panel of judges is made up of chefs, beverage experts and sommeliers, all of whom are members of Europe’s primary culinary and sommelier institutions.

Of the 796 companies that participated this year, 69 were placed in the exceptional category. One of these was Vilas del Turbón, a company specialising in bottling water from the springs at the foot of Mount Turbón in Huesca, Spain.

Vilas del Turbón water is positioned as the first "National Gourmet Premium Water" on the market. The company focuses on offering the highest quality water to meet the needs of its customers and its product can only be purchased through the horeca channel and in gourmet shops. Vilas del Turbón is a water uninfluenced by fleeting trends. It was declared a medicinal mineral water in 1958 and is suitable for even the most demanding palates, accustomed to enjoying the highest quality waters.

The qualification received in the "Superior Taste Award" is based on the score that each product receives: three stars (exceptional), for a minimum score of 90%; two stars (remarkable), for products receiving scores between 80 and 90%; and one star (good) for a rating of between 70 and 80%. The iTQi evaluates products through a blind tasting, without any indication of the origin of the product, the producer or the brand and without any packaging. The panel of judges assesses the articles based on five criteria, rated from 0 to 100: first impression, clarity, scent, taste and possible defects. The average score of these criteria is the final result. Vilas del Turbón achieved the qualification of "exceptional".