Mexican wine

For the Fountains of Wayne song "Mexican Wine", see Welcome Interstate Managers.
Grapes during pigmentation in Valle de Guadalupe, Baja California.

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. 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 1699, Charles II of Spain prohibited wine making in Mexico, with the exception of wine for Church purposes.[1] From then until Mexico’s Independence, wine was produced in Mexico only on a small scale.[2]

After Independence, wine making for personal purposes was no longer prohibited and production rose, especially in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Many other European immigrant groups helped with the comeback of wine in Mexico. However, the Mexican Revolution set back wine production, especially in the north of the country.[3] Wine production in Mexico has been rising in both quantity and quality since the 1980s, although competition from foreign wines and 40% tax on the product makes competing difficult within Mexico. Mexico is not traditionally a wine-drinking country, but rather prefers beer, tequila and mezcal. Interest in Mexican wine, especially in the major cities and tourists areas (along with the introduction into the US on a small scale), has grown along with Mexican wines’ reputation throughout the world. Many Mexican companies have received numerous awards.[4] Various wine producers from Mexico have won international awards for their products.[3] In 2020, the wine Don Leo Gran Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon won gold in the International Cabernet competition (CIDC) and the trophy for the world's best Cabernet.[5] The wine is produced in Parras, Coahuila in the Northwestern region of Mexico.

There are three major wine-producing areas in Mexico, with the Baja California area producing 90% of Mexico’s wine.[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.[6]

  1. ^ Delsol, Christine (2009-04-15). "A toast to Mexico's undiscovered wine country". San Francisco Chronicle. San Francisco, CA. Retrieved 2009-12-07.
  2. ^ a b "The Wines of Baja Renewing the History of Mexico's Wines". Retrieved 2009-12-07.
  3. ^ a b "The Wines of Mexico". Archived from the original on 2010-01-12. Retrieved 2009-12-07.
  4. ^ Booth, William (2009-04-26). "Violence Keeps Visitors From Mexico Wine Country". Washington Post. Washington, D.C. Retrieved 2009-12-07.
  5. ^ Morris, Seren (9 June 2020). "The Best Cabernet Sauvignon Wine Comes From…Mexico". Newsweek. Retrieved 22 February 2021.
  6. ^ "Mexico Desconocido Guia Especial La Ruta del Vino de Baja California" [Mexico Desconocido Special Guide The Wine Route of Baja California]. Mexico Desconocido. Mexico City: Impresiones Aéreas SA de CV: 24–86. 2009. ISSN 1870-9397.