Mexico is the oldest wine producing country in South America. Since the 2000’s, it has been trying to enter international markets with increasingly well-balanced wines.
Spanish colonists
Viticulture began in the 1520s, initiated by the Spanish colonists.
Historically, Mexico is the oldest wine producing country in South America.
Historically, Mexico is the oldest wine producing country in Latin America. In fact, after the attempt to grow vines by Christopher Columbus and his men in Santo Domingo, Haiti, vineyards were successfully established in Mexico in 1524 by King Ferdinand II of Aragon of Spain.
It is here that wine-growers tried for the first time grafts on American vines during the Phylloxera crisis – a solution that was then brought to the European vineyards.
But the history of Mexican viticulture has long been troubled by the influence and competition of Spain. Mexico only regained its independence after the Mexican revolution, in the 19th century.
Culturally, wine remains a typically western luxury product. But in recent years, there has been more attention paid to wine production and consecutively a real improvement in the quality of wines.
Mainly international grape
There are mainly international grape varieties, especially Spanish and Italian.
There are excellent Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec, Syrah, and Nebbiolo in reds, as well as Chardonnay, Sauvignon, Chenin, Colombard and Semillon in whites.
40,000 ha
The main wine regions are : The Parras Valley region in Coahuila, alongside the popular vineyards of Querétaro, Zacatecas, Guanajuato.
But the Baja California peninsula is responsible for between 80% and 90% of production. It is the region where most of the famous Mexican wines are produced.
Extent of the vineyard
Mexican vineyards extend over approximately 40,000 hectares.
Many of the vines are situated at high altitudes, around 6000 feet high.
Essentially produced to eat as table grapes or for distillation, only 10% of this vineyard is reserved for the creation of wines.
