Beaches and wine. Does it get any better?
When you think of beverages and Mexico, tequila typically (and understandably) comes to mind. But the vibrant country is home to some pretty stellar wine. But it’s not as common as varietals from Italy, Spain, or France. That’s why I tapped Nizuniro Altamirano, sommelier and wine and beverage director at Bahia Hotel & Beach House known as “The Liquid God” to find out some little-known facts. Bahia carries over 300 labels altogether (Bar Esquina has 250 labels, and SUR has 140 labels). And they offer a Winemaker Tribute Experience, a wine tasting experience, matched with the perfect food from top sommeliers in Mexico and chefs at Bahia. So, you can feel confident Altamirano knows a thing or two. Here are five things you probably never knew about Mexican wine.
Fewer Restrictions Means More Variety
“There are fewer restrictions for Mexican Wines. This means you will find a melting pot of grapes, styles, and blends in the region. No other region in the world has the same flexibility for producers and winemakers to explore different styles of wine without being punished for their bottle labeling. Everything from a white wine made from Grenache Noir to a Sauvignon Blanc – Chardonnay blend, and even a Cabernet – Nebbiolo blend (an unimaginable blend in the rest of the world) can be made in Mexican wine regions. Incredibly, they can still be labeled with the region (this wouldn’t happen in strictly regulated regions around the world).”
Blends Are Better
“Overall, blended reds tend to be better than single varietals because of how different grapes express the character of the region.”
Nizuniro Altamirano is known as the “The Liquid God.”
There’s A Napa Valley of Mexico
“Guadalupe Valley is the little Napa of Mexico. However, Napa Valley represents only 2% of Californian Wine, whereas the Guadalupe Valley accounts for more than 50% of Mexican wine production. A region with an optimal microclimate for red and white grapes, this valley continues to explore and expand its limits every year, and wines continue to get better with a bigger national market and more professional winemakers. Wine enthusiasts from all over the world visit the Ensenada Wine route to taste the best the country has to offer.”
Mexican Wine Is More Mature
“Mexican Wine is very mature compared to most world regions. This means that you will rarely want to keep a bottle for longer than four or five years.”
Tempranillo Is One Of The Best Grapes
“In Mexico, the Spanish grapes are widely used because of traditional heritage left by the Spanish colonial dominance. They produce some of the most valuable and sought-after wines in the world and Italian and French cultivars. Tempranillo, in particular, produces high-quality, full-bodied wines capable of long aging (the right quality provided), and that somehow merges perfectly with oak barrels. It is regarded as one of the best grapes for wine production in Mexico and the local Nebbiolo. However, I tend to recommend Syrah and Grenache as the better grapes for wine production in the Guadalupe Valley because these two varieties are better suited for the climate in Mexico (the Mediterranean hot for the Guadalupe Valley).”