Imagine this as your next glass of Cabernet at Los Senderos!
Oenophiles of all nationalities have likely known that the landscape around Queretaro has been well known for wine-grape growing. Mexico boasts three major wine regions, and the central region’s primary grape growing centers are Queretaro, Aguascalientes and Zacatecas.
For Mexico’s 2010 Bicentenario, the Mexican Wine Council created commemorative wines from 21 wineries, including L. A. Cetto, Casa Pedro Domecq, Monte Xanic, Casa Madero, Adobe Guadalupe, La Redonda, Cavas Freixenet—best known grape grower in Queretaro–Tanamá, Roganto, and Santo Tomás y Camou.
Mexican wine historians say that when Spanish conqueror Hernán Cortés depleted his wine stock in celebrating the conquest of the Aztecs in the early 1500s, one of his first acts as governor was to order thousands of grapevines planted throughout New Spain. The earliest vineyards took root in Puebla, Querétaro, Aguascalientes and Coahuila states.
All ships bound for the colonies carried grapevines and eventually wine exports from Spain to the New World—later known as Mexico—plummeted since so much new stock was available here. In 1699, King Charles II reversed this grapevine exportation policy, banning New World wine production except in service to the church; wine historians will say it was because Spain didn’t want such heady competition for their historically successful wine industry. Modern wine oenophiles will say Spain’s decision proved, well, fruitless because Mexico’s wine production and quality stand a good chance at rivaling Spain’s some day soon.
While Queretaro remains dominated by wine producers Cavas Freixenet de Mexico, north of Tequisquiapan, and Compania Vinicola Los Eucaliptos, in Ezequiel Montes, smaller growers are enjoying broader recognition in our central wine region.
Among the smallest—the most intimate, we would say!—is the winery at Los Senderos. While we aren’t yet producing wine for commercial sales—last year saw our first bottling of about 400 bottles—our winery makes a charming backdrop for weddings, events… even picnics for two. Drop by for a tour and let us tell you about the many varietals growing in our quaint vineyard!
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