Actually, Mexico produces some respectable wines in several distinct growing regions. The country is also home to the oldest vineyard and winery on the continent. All kinds of wines are produced there, including sparkling wines from one of Spain's most famous producers. So, in the spirit of NAFTA, I thought it might be fun to take a look at the wine industry south of the border, down Mexico way.
It turns out that there is a long tradition of winemaking in Mexico - not surprising, really, when you think about it. When the Spanish Conquistadors so politely moved into the country in the 16th century, they naturally brought with them from their native land a taste for wine. (Also a taste for murder, mayhem and genocide, but that's a story for another type of column.)
The Parras Valley is in the northeast of Mexico in the state of Coahuila. Exploring the region west of Monterrey, Don Lorenzo Garcia found an oasis among the surrounding desert. Here he found springs and native grape vines growing in abundance. The year was 1597. Don Lorenzo established Casa Madero, a vineyard and winery that are operating to this day - the oldest winery on the continent. Casa Madero concentrates on reds, producing Cabernet, Merlot and blends of the two. Recently they planted Chardonnay and it shows promise as well.
Continues here: ...
Saturday, May 10, 2008
Lifestyles: Mexican Wines
Ruta del Vino: Build and They Will Drink
Travel Baja California By Steve Dryden
“A Field of Dreams” is what I call vineyards in the Baja California wine country. I think every person who plants grapes has dreams of creating something personal, special and significant. As a grape grower I maintain an intimate relationship with grape vines, my own private Italian family of Nebbiolo grapes. I’m blessed with spoiled Italian bambinos who demand organic food, water twice a week and won’t perform well unless I play Johannes Brahms and Frederic Chopin for them during the cool evenings, just before sunset! And, every vineyard manager, winemaker and winery owner has a vision to produce the best possible product, expressing the land, the
grapes, the passion and the likes of each individual.
Vineyards and wineries continue to sprout up in Valle de Guadalupe and Ruta del Vino is the link that now joins them all together. Gone are the days when wine tasting in the valley was a combination of the TV series Survivor, off-road racing and demolition derby.
Ruta del Vino (the wine route) has been expanded and the old dirt road from Francisco Zarco towards Monte Xanic and beyond to Bibayoff and Vinas Pijoan has been paved. In the next month or two (Mexican time) the road will be paved all the way from the little village of Francisco Zarco to the free road near El Tigre. This is a revelation and a revolution in the sense that you’ll no longer need “double strength”
Polident to keep your dentures locked-in as you fight the washboard roads where some unlucky folks often encountered potholes that could easily consume an entire car. And, now (for better or worse) you’ll see motor coaches at back country wineries that once were accessible only to Baja off-road vehicles, ATV’s, ATC’s, naive gringos or local adventurers. And, the new road traverses once hidden olive groves, tree farms, “old vine” vineyards, ranchos and “secret artisan” wineries.
Today, there are about ten to twelve wineries that can be easily accessed via the new Zarco - El Tigre Wine Route. In order of location from Francisco Zarco are: Vinicola Sueños, Fuentes Brothers, Monte Xanic, Chateau Camou, Adobe Guadalupe, Baron Balch’e, JC Bravo, The Wine School, La Villa, Bibayoff and Viñas Pijoan. And, there are a few more “hidden treasures” along the route waiting for your discovery, but I’m leaving that adventure to those who still want a place to hide, relax and avoid the crowds. For lovers of the wonderful wine of Monte Xanic, you might note that they are now open on Saturday and Sunday from 10 to 3 p.m. They do not take motor coach tours, no groups larger than twenty people and with prior approval only.
Families looking for quality wine with “super value” pricing and a place for kids to play while mom and dad taste wine should explore Viños Fuentes winery near Km 1.25 on the new Zarco-Tigre Wine Route. One of the newer members in our regional “wine boom” is the family of Hector and Miguel Fuentes, along with brothers Mark and Hector Fuentes Jr. These native Baja Californians have a long history of farming in Mexicali and Valle de Guadalupe. Over the last several years they have been converting their former fruit orchard into a family oriented winery, recreation area, boutique gift shop, traditional Mexican restaurant and steak house.
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Friday, May 09, 2008
New releases from 2006 and 2007 from Baja Wine Country
By Steve Dryden
Baja California wine continues the climb towards “world class” status with each new vintage. Every year in April the wine industry presents a seafood and new wine release festival in Ensenada. This year’s food and wine extravaganza took place at the cruise ship terminal on the scenic plaza overlooking the harbor with a backdrop from the mountains of La Bufadora and Punta Banda. Several of the best culinary establishments between Rosarito Beach and Ensenada provided guests with gourmet delights and an opportunity to match up new wines with superb entrees. Within minutes of the opening presentation it was obvious that Baja California is reaching superior levels in winemaking and culinary arts. Mexico has something to be very proud of with food and wine from this region and Ensenada is becoming the food and wine capital of the country.
Pau Pijoan of Viñas Pijoan was a “shining star” of the event with his new release of 2006 Domenico. It was the most stunning wine I tasted that day with rich, elegant and deep layers of flavor, perfectly balanced with a long and graceful finish. This blend of seventy-five percent Grenache, fifteen percent Petite Sirah and ten percent Cabernet Sauvignon is artistically crafted from selected “old vines” grown in sandy soil of Valle de San Vicente. Pau continues to create superior wines under the guidance of Hugo D’ Acosta.
Continues here ...
Sunday, April 27, 2008
Mexican wines from Copia event
By Jessica Yadegaran
As promised in today’s column on Mexican wines, here’s a selection of the best Baja wines I tasted at the Copia event last weekend. Check each winery’s Web site to locate a distributor (most are in Los Angeles) and find out if and when they will be available in the Bay Area. Some are headed into our stores as early as spring. As you’ll see, I was particularly taken with their blends.
Not to be a downer, but I do have to warn you about something that’s come to my attention. There has been a significant rise in the kidnappings of American tourists in Baja this past year. Seems our respective federal governments are too busy working on other security issues to shed light on this problem. So please be informed before you visit.
On to the wines:
Monte Xanic: 50,000 cases produced annually.
2004 Chenin Colombard: Well-balanced and bursting with tropical fruits and acidity.
2004 Gran Ricardo: A velvet-cedar-raspberry blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petit Verdot that is aged for 18 months in French oak.
Casa de Piedro: 3,000 cases produced annually.
2005 Vino de Piedra Tinto: An elegant blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Tempranillo that has become quite the trend in Baja blends. This one showed tart berries, light grilled meats and vanilla on the finish. It was gorgeous.
2005 Parallelo Ensemble Arsena: a medium bodied blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Sirah and Barbera from the hillsides of San Antonio de las Minas. This wine is very balanced with dark fruits, leather and smoke. Very impressive.
Chateau Camou:
2004 Gran Vino Tinto Merlot: Beautiful ruby color with good, structured tannins and a floral finish. What Merlot should be.
2004 Gran Vino Tinto: A traditional Bordeaux Blend where the Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc are aged separately in stainless steel tanks and then in new French oak for 13 months. Blending occurs just before bottling and the result is cassis, coffee and spice.
L.A. Cetto: 600,000 cases produced annually with 14 different labels.
Vinicola Cabernet of Rose: I was blown away by the crisp, sherbert acidity of this dry rose made from Cabernet Sauvignon. Have it with sushi and be dazzled. And here’s the kicker: it costs $6.50 and is widely available in the U.S.
Reservas Privada Nebbiolo: This is L.A. Cetto’s premium label. This wine is tar-kissed with rose petals and violets on the nose. It’s got great tannins and impeccable finish. Here’s to the new Piedmont.
Source: http://www.ibabuzz.com/corkheads/2008/02/06/mexican-wines-from-copia-event/
Monday, April 14, 2008
Looking for Mexican wine of Casa Madero in the USA
Hi,
We had a very good bottle of wine while in Cancun last week, from Casa Madera, and are interested in purchasing some. We had a chardonnay that we really enjoyed, and would like to try the Semillon. How can we find some that can be shipped to the USA?
Thank you, Miff
miffmark@rangeweb.net
Question about wine grapes
Dear Senors:
I undestand that the 2007 census of agriculture has been published. I am looking specifically for the section on grapes. Do you happen to know how I can obtain this? Thank you.
Sincerely,
Patrick W Fegan, Director
CHICAGO WINE SCHOOL
1942 S Halsted St
Chicago, IL 60608
312-491-0284
www.wineschool.com
PWFegan@aol.com
Saturday, March 08, 2008
Visit Monte Xanic
The highlight of my tour through the valley was a stop at Monte Xanic. As luck would have it, Backhoff was cooling off in the tasting room on this scorching hot day.
Backhoff is an old acquaintance. He and I have both judged at the Los Angeles International Wine Competition, and he came to San Diego a couple of years ago to judge at the San Diego International Wine Competition, where I am Director and Chief Judge.
He greeted me with a bit of a gleam in his eye, for he had a couple of special wines to share. Monte Xanic is well known for its Cabernet, its Bordeaux-style red and white blends and its Chardonnay.
On this day, Hans was on to something else.
"These are experimental wines, they are not for sale," he said.
One was a red blend of Aglianico and Nebbiolo, about 90 percent of it Aglianico. This is the most important red grape of southern Italy and produces a world class wine under the right circumstances.
"The Aglianico is doing beautifully," said Backhoff. "The cuttings came from a man locally."
The Nebbiolo Aglianico was exquisitely balanced and beautifully structured, a complex, world class red that's easily among the best wines I've ever tasted from Baja. The other wine that had Backhoff humming was a Petit Verdot, a gorgeous fruit bomb of a wine that reminded me of fresh blueberries.
"We usually blend this for color, but this was so good we had to bottle some on its own," said Hans.
I remember thinking as I left that I couldn't believe these two incredible wines were made in Mexico. Then I remembered my first visit to Monte Xanic many years ago. I went home with a bottle of Chardonnay and poured it during a blind tasting for a number of wine enthusiasts who met regularly at a local restaurant.
The Monte Xanic bested a stellar selection of French white Burgundies and California Chardonnays. As the winner was unbagged, one of the tasters, a confirmed Francophile, buried his face in his hands and cried: 'I don't believe I voted for a wine from Mexico over the Puligny-Montrachet!'
Source Robert Whitley
Visit LA Cetto
L.A. Cetto, well run and with high standards despite its size, was a different experience. Its tasting room and picnic grounds were teeming with tourists, but despite the crowd the staff remained in good humor and extremely helpful.
Much to my surprise Cetto poured an excellent Viognier, a white wine made famous in France's Rhone Valley. A Cabernet Sauvignon, a red Bordeaux-style blend and a Rose of Cabernet were all first-rate, too. I purchased a bottle of the L.A. Cetto Nebbiolo to take home. Though impossible to find in the U.S., I did run across this wine once in a wine bar in Paris. It's probably the finest Nebbiolo I've ever tasted outside of Italy.
Source Robert Whitley
Monday, February 25, 2008
"Viñas de Camou" wines from Chateau Camou
In the classic style of the wines of Bordeaux, the Sauvignon Blanc wines have been fermented 100% in new French Oak Barrels (225 lts Seguin Moreau) for 12 months. Yellow green in color, great transparency and brightness, tropical fruit (passion fruit, guava, apple, peach, melon). Citrus and toasted oak aromas provide a character with great balance, unctuous body and a nice fresh evolution followed by a long aftertaste.
The micro-climate, the sandy-clay soil of Cañada del Trigo, as well as the mixing of 60 year old vines with young ones from the variety of Chardonnay produce this great wine. Made in the most traditional way, fermentation in new French barrels (225 lts Seguin Moreau) during nine months. Golden - Yellow in color, clean and brilliant. Delicate aroma of tropical fruits, peach, butter, honey and toasted oak, a complex and balanced flavor; oily body and a long - lasting aftertaste.
Wines and Wine Tastings - Sancho Panza Wine Bistro and Jazz Club - Cabo San Lucas
The following are some of the wineries that we carry when available. (Product availability is one of the aspects that make our lifestyle here in our ocean side desert paradise of Cabo San Lucas more interesting, and our selection of wine is no exception. Therefore, our wine list is constantly evolving. This list is only a sampling of wineries we carry. At any time there may be more or fewer wineries in stock for your enjoyment.)
A note to our wine loving friends: You are entitled to bring 3 liters (or four 750 ml bottles) of wine or alcohol into Mexico duty free.
ANOTHER VERY IMPORTANT NOTE TO OUR WINE LOVING FRIENDS:
We are adding a page to chronicle your winery memories. We want to share all of our travels through the world of wine with other wine lovers. If you have any special wine notes, winery experiences, or wine events that you would like to share with us please email us your comments, notes, and we will include them here for all of us to enjoy.
Mexican wines:
Chateau Camou
Flor de Guadalupe
Monte Xanic
More here: www.sanchopanza.com
Searching wine from Mogor Badan
Hello,
Since my boss, Dr Pacheco, discovered your wine, Mogor Badan Cabernet, we have been trying to obtain this wine. It was introduced to him by a very good friend of his which is a restaurant manager at the Greenery in June of 2007. I would like to know how I can get a case of this infamous wine I'm curious to obtain myself and saver. You may email me or call me at your earliest convenience with information. Thank you and I look forward on your reply. Gracias
Isabel D. Murillo
IsabelDM8202@yahoo.com
915-861-7891
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Mexican Wine in Chicago, by Oscar P Chavez
We have wine from Cavas Valmar and Vinisterra:
- Cavas Valmar, Chenin Blanc 2000 $ 15.99
- Cavas Valmar, Tempranillo 2005 $ 16.99
- Cavas Valmar, Cabernet Sauvignon 2003 $ 20.99
- Cavas Valmar, Cabernet Sauvignon 1999 $ 21.99
- Vinisterra, Cabernet-Merlot 2003 $ 25.99
- Vinisterra, Tempranillo 2004$ 25.99
Please contact Oscar Chavez at 630-640-0247 or
visite www.thewinesofmexico.com
Vinisterra mexican winery and their Macouzet range
Try their Macouzet Cabernet Sauvignon-Merlot blend, aged 30 percent in new French oak for 18 months with one year and six months bottle aging. Garnet color with aromas of ripe red berries with velvety balanced flavors. The end result is a soft, smooth wine with light hint of wood, ripe fruit, medium acidity, mid-soft tannins and good structure. Their Tempranillo is an outstanding wine aged 40 percent in new American oak with almost two years bottle aging. Dark ruby color with aromas of black cherry, vanilla and a hint of oak. Flavors of black stone fruit mix with good mid-mouth mild tannins, good acidity with a balanced finish. Rated 84 points in Copenhagen competition. This winery is one of the "best" wine producers in Mexico!
Mexican wines from Pedro Domecq
White wines from Pedro Domecq
The 2003 XA Cabernet Sauvignon is like the dozens of average Cabs you see from Chile. Medium bodied, it has flavors of lush ripe red berries with soft tannins. In all, it is a flabby but very drinkable wine for only $20. Moving up the quality scale is the 2003 Chateau Domecq Cosecha Seleccionada. This wine is round and supple with flavors of wild berries. Made from a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Niebbelo, it is a better deal at $23; I only saw it twice on the wine lists however. Three fine Mexican Wineries
Monte Xanic
