Mexican wine traces memorable travel routes that celebrate life

Published August 17th, 2021

After months of staying at home and in front of screens, the aspiration to establish a tangible link with the nature of wine seems to be at its peak. Wine tourism represents an open and throbbing means to achieve this ideal assembly.

It should not be forgotten, of course, that the conditions for this encounter have changed. The pandemic has had a strong impact on all areas of tourism, but it has also increased our inclination, as travelers, for less crowded destinations that practice sustainability and are responsible in every way.

In response to this interest, the Mexican Wine Council (CMV), in the words of its director, Paz Austin, called on its members to incorporate wheelchair ramps, tactile footpaths, and training in sign language, in order to consolidate a more inclusive industry with wine tourism destinations for all.

During the period of greater restrictions, Casa Madero reflected on environmental conservation and its social commitment, while at the same time developing new tourism products focused on taking advantage of small groups of guests to offer much more personalized experiences.

Contemplate the oasis in the middle of the Coahuila desert from the top of a lookout point; tour the vineyards and then visit the interior of the winery and the wine museum and participate in a wine tasting as a prelude to a special meal with signature dishes?

This is one of the experiences that the oldest winery in America offers today. The objective is that visitors learn about the art of winemaking, the centennial legacy of Casa Madero, and the spectacular nature that surrounds it and that it is a memorable event and an inspiration to return to the domains of the Parras Valley, at the foot of the Sierra Madre Oriental.

Although the most important season is the grape harvest in summer (between July and August), the truth is that, nowadays, any weekend is ideal to visit the winery and the magical town of Parras de la Fuente. It is important to plan your trip, stay informed about local preventive measures and make reservations in advance.

WINE TERRITORY
The grape harvests are a reason for joy for winegrowers because they represent gratitude to the earth for the fruits that will be transformed into an elixir of life. After a year of being canceled throughout the country, in Guanajuato, these festivities have begun to be celebrated and will be extended until October, with the security measures required by the current context.

The wines of the Valle de la Independencia are the most sensitive representation of a kind territory for the cultivation of vines; a land full of history, cultural and natural heritage, whose enology was reborn with grace after years of lethargy.

This evolution is recalled in the Guanajuato Wine Museum. This modern facility, with five interactive rooms, houses all the labels produced in the state. The state is the fourth largest wine producer in the country, with 700,000 bottles and 385 hectares harvested.

Viñedos San Lucas contributes an important part of the production: 150,000 bottles per year, under the brand La Santísima Trinidad. And it is in the tasting rooms of the winery where you can enjoy a tasting of its noble productions or an intimate dinner-pairing.

It is also possible to delve into the knowledge of the olive tree and lavender through personalized workshops, or simply enjoy its outdoor spaces, tour the vineyards on foot or by bicycle, and, finally, admire how the sunset covers the leaves of the vine.

In addition to its strategic location in San Miguel de Allende, which connects it to the country’s capital and all the cities of the Bajío region, San Lucas (as well as its sister vineyards: La Santísima Trinidad and San Francisco) has a boutique hotel and a high-level polo field. It will be in these sports facilities, within the framework of the most important equestrian event of the year, where the weekly harvests will begin to take place in the autumn.

DIVERSE HORIZONS
Mentioning the Baja California Wine Route is vital in the subject that concerns us because its nature expresses itself in a diversity of climates, soils, and landscapes. It is made up of eight valleys: Tijuana, Tecate, Guadalupe, El Tule, Ojos Negros, Uruapan, Santo Tomás and San Vicente.

The Guadalupe Valley, however, is enigmatic. It uniquely combines the ancestral with the contemporary, tradition with innovation, the green of the vineyards with the ochre of the oteros.

These contrasts are manifested in wines of great expression, which have been placed on international podiums and can be tasted in pairing with gastronomic options from the countryside to the table.

In addition to the private experiences, led by sommeliers, El Cielo winery offers the most distinguished guests the opportunity to enter its cellar to make a blend and thus create a wine of their own authorship. Finally, after a day full of emotions, there is nothing better than relaxing in a paradise of your own and getting ready to watch the stars and their reflection in the lake that lies in the resort by the warmth of a bonfire.