Drinking Wine in Cabo
Wines from Baja
The next time you sit down for a delightful meal in Los Cabos, you may possibly want to check out where the wine you’re enjoying is from. Chances are you could be sipping on a robust Merlot or Chardonnay from just a bit farther north.
Mexico is offering significantly more than tequila and beer these days. For most, the veritable ‘boom’ in Mexico’s wine production would be regarded as a new phenomenon. However, you may be surprised to know that the art of winemaking in Mexico dates way back to the time of the Spanish conquest, with the earliest vineyard in all the Americas, Casa Madera, located in Coahuila state and dating back to 1597.
It should be mentioned that only a couple of locations in the world have the kind of conditions essential to grow quality wine grapes and it just so happens that the Guadalupe Valley in northern Baja is one of these areas. The soil is sandy yet fertile and the local weather is not unlike the Rhone Valley in France or California’s breathtaking Napa Valley. So it will come as no surprise that once the Dominican priests commenced winemaking in 1834, at the Our Lady of Guadalupe Mission, high quality grapes and therefore delectable full bodied wines were the fruits of their labor.
Vineyards, that in recent years have had numerous accolades bestowed upon them, lazily wind through the northern Baja countryside, the fairly virgin soil producing a grape reminiscent of a Tuscany of old. On a trip to Baja’s wine region, you may have the opportunity not only to discover the many wine-related festivals, but also perhaps a new fruity award winning vintage as well.
Approximately 90 % of the wine Mexico produces comes from the valleys of Guadalupe, San Antonio de las Minas and Calafia in Baja California, confectioned in mostly boutique-type wineries. With a grape-loving local weather and just-right dirt conditions, these wines have fast become local favorites and are gaining acceptance the world over. Make sure you bring a bottle home with you! And if you are fortunate enough to be the owner or renter of one of Cabo Homes, stock up the cellar with these wines.
Cabernet, Nebbiolo, Barbera, Zinfandel and Grenache grapes are only some making up the Mexican red-wine menu, while whites feature almost everything from Chenin Blanc to Riesling and Colombard. Here are a few names to look out for:
- L.A. Cetto: One of the largest wineries in Mexico, L.A. Cetto makes a extensive variety of wines, such as Petite Sirah, Fumé Blanc and Blanc de Zinfandel, and boutique options and a wonderful brandy.
- La Casa de Doña Lupe: Even now run by Doña Lupe herself, this little winery puts together organic Merlots, Grenache and Cabernets, as well as marmalades.
- Adobe Guadalupe This boutique vineyard produces 4 “ethereal” blends of red and a nice rosé, all called after different angels.
- Casa de Piedra:Little over 10 years old, Casa de Piedra makes a high-quality Chardonnay and an exciting Tempranillo-Cabernet Sauvignon blend.
- Monte Xanic: One of the most well-known wine producers, Monte Xanic presents both single varieties and blends, including Chardonnay and a Sauvignon Blanc-Semillon blend.
- Viña de Liceaga: You’ll see this name in various reds and whites, and grappa
Cabo San Lucas now has its own fully performing winery, which specializes in sourcing high quality grapes from the best wine regions in the world. Los Cabos Winery seeks to develop world class wines right here in Cabo, and distribute them through Mexico. The winery features its own temperature and humidity-controlled wine cave, where wines are aged till they reach their peak, when they are bottled and labeled. Take time from your search for Houses in Cabo with Cabo San Lucas Real Estate and stop by the winery.
And for all the vacationers in Cabo, there is now the International Wine Festival, held in the middle of January. It comprises four fun-filled days of culinary creations, workshops, music and dancing and over 100 delectable wines to sample from the region’s most famous wineries. Just another fantastic excuse to escape the cold and head down to Cabo for the warm winter sun and a few glasses of a full bodied vintage Mexican wine.
Visit Cabo and discover, learn and most importantly savor the taste of a new, exciting and lesser known Mexican tradition…
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