Mexico is a vacation spot known for its delicious food, sunny beaches, and tequila-filled spring breaks. But what many travelers have yet to explore is Mexico’s incredible wine country. With three unique regions, providing a wide range of grape varieties, it has recently become a popular destination for oenophiles. It’s a wine region you need to know about!
The first vineyards planted in North America were in Mexico—the Spanish started cultivating wine in Mexico when they settled in the 16th century. They brought grapes from all over Europe creating unique blends. There are over 7,700 acres dedicated to wine. Although winemaking has been going on for hundreds of years in Mexico, the wine industry didn’t start booming until the 1980s.
The North: Baja & Sonora
The Northern region features the states of Baja and Sonora. Baja includes Valle de Guadalupe, Valle de Calafia, Valle de San Vincente, and Valle de Santo Tomás. With over 150 wineries, it makes up around 85% of Mexican wine production. The most popular area to visit in Baja is Valle de Guadalupe. Sonora includes Hermosillo and Caborca, which are known for their Brandy. If you are traveling to this region take the “Ruta del Vino” which connects several hotels, restaurants, and wineries. Also, check out the “Fiesta de la Vendimia” a wine festival that occurs every August in Ensenada.
La Laguna
The La Laguna region includes the states of Coahuila, Durango, and Zacatecas. Coahuila hosts the oldest winery in North America, Casa Madero, in Valle de Parras. The best times to travel to this region are August and September for the annual grape harvest, “La Vendimia”, and in June for the “Feria de la Uva y el Vino”.
Central
Just outside of Mexico City at an elevation of about 6,500 ft., the Central region consists of Querétaro, Zacatecas, and Aguascalientes. The grapes cultivated here are mostly used for Brandy production, but this area is also known for its sparkling wines. For example, Spain’s Freixenet has a facility here called Cavas Freixenet. Visit Querétaro in June to experience the annual wine and cheese festival, “Feria Nacional del Queso y de Vino.”
Contact your cellar manager if you would like us to source a few bottles of Mexican wine for you. Cheers!