Nearly are planted to grapes in Mexico. Principal white wine grapes include
chenin blanc,
chardonnay,
sauvignon blanc and
viognier, and reds include all five
Bordeaux varietals plus
Grenache,
tempranillo,
dolcetto,
syrah and
petite sirah. There are three areas in Mexico where wine grapes are grown. The North area includes Baja California and
Sonora; the
La Laguna area is in Coahuila and
Durango and the Center area consists of Zacatecas,
Aguascalientes and
Querétaro. Most of these areas have a fairly warm climate, which tend to make Mexican wines spicy, full-bodied and
ripe; however, Northern Baja California's humid winters, dry warm summers and sea breezes allow for most of the same varietals produced in California. , Guanajuato The most important winery here is Casa Madero, the oldest winery in the
New World, founded in 1597 as Hacienda San Lorenzo, Coahuila. This label includes a range of varietals, with its chardonnay, chenin blanc and Syrah winning awards. Its brandies are considered among the best in Mexico. Another important winery here is Bodegas Ferrino, founded by a 19th-century Italian immigrant near the town of
Cuatro Ciénegas. , Querétaro The Center region consists of areas in Querétaro, Zacatecas and Aguascalientes. Most vineyards are found at an altitude of , and most of the wine produced here is of the sparkling variety. However, other types such as
Sauvignon blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon and
Pinot noir can be found as well. The best-known vintner here is the Mexican operation of Spain’s
Freixenet winery. This label is known for dry sparkling wines called “vinos espumosos” (sparkling wines), which come in satiny black bottles and based on
Dom Pérignon’s champagne fermentation methods. Some still red wines are also produced. Another major producer is Companía Vinícola Los Eucaliptos in the town of
Ezequiel Montes. A locally known label is Vinos Hidalgo La Madrileña in the
San Juan del Río region. Most vineyards in Zacatecas are in the municipalities of
Ojocaliente and
Valle de la Macarena. This area has very cool winters and fairly cool summers, which combined with its moisture-holding clay soils is best for fast-maturing grapes with a high sugar content. A number of European red varieties such as cabernet sauvignon and merlot are grown here as well as American varieties such as
zinfandel, Black Spanish and Lenoir. Some white grapes also do well here. Wineries here are smaller operations than in other parts of the country, with the best known local label being Casa Cachola just outside
Valle de las Arcinas. Other producers in Sonora include Viñedo Cinco Encinos, Viñedos La Bonita, Giottonini, Viñedo Rancho Sonora, and La Cava de Ruby. The North zone produces ninety percent of Mexico’s wines today, with almost all of that coming from three regions not far from the port city of Ensenada: the San Antonio de las Minas zone, which includes the Valle de Guadalupe, the San Vicente Valley and the Santo Tomás Valley. Most of Mexico’s wine innovation occurs in the Ensenada area, in the form of the so-called “
boutique” producers such as Casa de Piedra, whose first vintage was produced in 1997. This operation only produces one white, called Piedra del Sol and a red called Vino de Piedra. Another small producer is Viña de Liceaga, which produces reds. Don Miller owns a ranch and winery called Casa Adobe Guadalupe with a wine school here to help small producers make a profit and draw tourists. There is even one organic wine producer by the name of Doña Lupe. ==Enotourism and festivals in Mexico==