Mexican wine

Mexico is a country that many will never come when it comes to wine and especially so-called fine wines (literally “good wine,” or another vintage). As well as, for example, China or India. Meanwhile, China is among the world leaders in winemaking (by number), with an area of vineyards, more than 500 thousand hectares…

Being familiar with unusual wine regions, including Brazil, I was not too surprised by the fact that in Mexico, the wine industry is developing quite actively. Much more surprising with how deep he’s got historical roots.

The consensus of researchers agree on 1530х years when the first vines were planted in Mexico by Spanish settlers. There is a farm, whose history can be traced up to 1597. Even by European standards, with their château, which for several centuries, 450 years – an impressive period presence on the wine map.

I suspect that many reading this material are not much of a chance to face Mexican wine. In the end, this country is more famous for its watery beer and tequila than its vineyards. But the situation is slowly changing.

Wines from regions such as Guadalupe Valley (Valle de Guadalupe) Baja California Peninsula (Baja California) – a few hours drive South of San Diego made their way in the wine lists of restaurants and on the shelves of specialized shops. Although it is very few. Units are exported to Europe, and find them there – not an easy task.

For the love of adventure and for the chance to taste the oldest wine produced on the American continents, I decided to dig a little deeper.
The wine industry in Mexico is concentrated around the Valley of Guadalupe. Although there are other regions where the grapes are grown. For example, Zacatecas (Zacatecas) and the Parras Valley (Valle de Parras) with plantings of international varieties Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay and are quite popular varieties Zinfandel and Tempranillo.

The oldest winery Casa Madero (Casa Madero) – located at the top of the Parras Valley (Valle de Parras). According to John Worontschak (John Worontschak) – winemaker, winery consultant since the mid 1990s – the landscape resembles the moon, until you climb up to Casa Madero where irrigation mountain water helped to create a green oasis of vineyards.

Doing here a blend of Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc and Cabernet-Merlot-Tempranillo. Both versions get a Mature, easy drinking and well balanced. Although these wines have a salty aftertaste, which I’ve heard is their feature, and sometimes a problem.

As in the case of South Africa, which also boasts a long history of winemaking, there are some difficulties with determining the place, which is Mexican wine. It is old Light or New?

For a long time the division was quite categorical. Although to make wine has historically started in the territories South of the Black sea, “improved” it and made it a commercial product, the Europeans then began to export it in the so-called “New world” – to South America, to California, to Australia.

It might make sense to introduce some kind of separate category for countries with century-long history of winemaking, paving a new trail on the wine market.

Mexican wine, which is worth a try

CASA MADERO 2V. (2013)