Tempranillo, Grenache and Cabernet Sauvignon. If you want to know more about the history of our mexican wine we invite you to visit the Wine Cellar in Xcaret. The North area includes Baja California and Sonora; the La Laguna area is in Coahuila and Durango and the Center area consists of Zacatecas, Aguascalientes and Querétaro. [9], There are three areas in Mexico where wine grapes are grown. You will need fresh, sleek, and crispy wines with high acidic content to match Mexican … Casa Madero. This event includes a horse show, live music, food and wine. [5], According to legend, Hernán Cortés and his soldiers quickly depleted the wine they brought with them from Spain celebrating the conquest of the Aztec Empire in 1521. Although there were indigenous grapes before the Spanish conquest, the Spaniards found that Spanish grapevines also did very well in the colony of New Spain (Mexico) and by the 17th century wine exports from Spain to the New World fell. In the mouth it has a flavor of anise, lilacs and fresh red fruits. This valley is a microclimate in the desert area of these states at an altitude of 1,500 meters. [21] A more local celebration in the same area is Querétaro's version of the Vendimia first harvest festival which occurs at various wineries in the state in July. [14] The last of Mexico's tariffs on imported brandy were lifted in the first decade of the 21st century, with sales and consumption expected to rise. This area has very cool winters and fairly cool summers, which combined with its moisture-holding clay soils is best for fast-maturing grapes with a high sugar content. This wine contains 100% grenache. [1] The temperature difference of 12 °C (22 °F) between day and night is also beneficial to the grapes. Most of these areas have a fairly warm climate, which tend to make Mexican wines spicy, full-bodied and ripe; however, Northern Baja California's humid winters, dry warm summers and sea breezes allow for most of the same varietals produced in California. The Route connects over fifty wineries, along with upscale restaurants, hotels, museums and other attractions of this part of Baja California state. Chardonnay. [12], Nearly 2,500 hectares (6,200 acres) are planted to grapes in Mexico. [5] The route is marked by “Ruta del Vino” signs on the roads and highways to promote the area for enotourism, especially from the U.S. [4] However, the 1980s also opened Mexico’s small wine market to foreign competition, which hurt it. Under reds you will find Nebbiolo, Tempranillo, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah and Malbec as the most prominent. [1] More than 400 families come to the Parras Valley in August and September for the annual grape harvest called “la vendimia.”[15], The most important winery here is Casa Madero, the oldest winery in the New World, founded in 1597 as Hacienda San Lorenzo. That prohibition stayed in force until Mexico’s Independence. Wineries here are smaller operations than in other parts of the country, with the best known local label being Casa Cachola just outside Valle de las Arcinas. Many Mexican companies have received numerous awards. [7] Most wineries here are young, established only since the 1980s and 1990s,[6] but some enthusiasts are calling the Valley of Guadalupe area the “next Napa Valley.”[8] The wine industry is growing rapidly and the quality of the wine is improving. [10] The valley primarily produces reds based on Bordeaux such as cabernet sauvignon, Shiraz, merlot and Tempranillo. Mountain springs provide sufficient water in this arid part of Mexico. Cabernet  Sauvignon and Merlot. [1] From then until Mexico’s Independence, wine was produced in Mexico only on a small scale. Mexican wine and wine making began with the arrival of the Spanish in the 16th century, when they brought vines from Europe to modern day Mexico, the oldest wine-growing region in the Americas. [3], Vineyards in the Americas, especially New Spain were successful enough that wine exports from Spain to America plummeted. We reccomend serving it with white meats and creamy sauces, other good options are: peppers in walnut sauce, turkey stuffed with dried fruit, passion fruit cake and bananas flambe. Your email address will not be published. Calixa Rosado Grenache 2008. [2] This area is promoted heavily for enotourism with the “Ruta del Vino” (Wine Route), which connects over fifty wineries with the port of Ensenada and the border and the annual Vendimia harvest festival. Today, Gruet’s line-up of sparkling wines are popular in restaurants and retail shops across the country. [16], The Center region consists of areas in Querétaro, Zacatecas and Aguascalientes. Grenache. Your email address will not be published. [1] Another one from Casa Madero. Adobe Guadalupe. In 1843, Dominican priests began growing grapes at the nearby Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe del Norte mission, located in what is now called Valle de Guadalupe. Principal white wine grapes include chenin blanc, chardonnay, sauvignon blanc and viognier, and reds include all five Bordeaux varietals plus Grenache, tempranillo, dolcetto, syrah and petite sirah. Mexican food is every bit as complex, flavored, and most wineries offer tours and wine.! A “ new winemaking technique ”, Queretaro, Mexico Center region consists of areas in neighboring state. To grapes in Mexico is centered on the Norte region, although wine festivals exist the... 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