The Vitis vinifera Vine and the concept of winemaking arrived in Mexico with the Spanish conquistadors in the 16th century. Before the colony's wine production could meet local demand, wine was imported from Spanish vineyards, which maintained a healthy Flow of ships and trade between Spain and Nueva Espana ("New Spain" as Mexico was called at the time). This trade was so important that the King of Spain, King Carlos II, banned commercial wine production to keep it going.
Local wine production was only allowed for ceremonial purposes, but it was this legal exception that kept a tiny Mexican wine industry going until the early 19th century, when Mexico gained its independence from Spain.
The first Mexican vineyards were planted around the town of Parras de la Fuente, which translates as "vineyards of the spring," nestled in the Sierra Madre Oriental mountains.
The wine regions of modern Mexico are now located in the slightly cooler, ocean-moderated Climate of northwestern Baja California, far west of the original wine-growing areas. Ninety percent of Mexican wine is now produced at the northern end of the Long, thin Baja California peninsula, in the valleys of Guadalupe, Calafia, Santo Tomas, San Vicente and San Antonio de las Minas. There are also scattered vineyards in La Laguna and further South in Zacateca and Aguascalientes where table Grapes are more common.
Because of the hot, sunny climate, irrigation is required in almost all locations; most Mexican vineyards are at a latitude similar to the deserts of Iraq and the northern Sahara. Rainfall is low, with the driest areas receiving as little as 200 millimeters (8 inches) per year. The entire region, with the exception of the northwestern corner of Baja California, is classified as a hot arid desert on the Koppen climate classification scale; viticulture is made possible by the presence of the Pacific Ocean to the west and the Gulf of California to the east.
There are no native vinifera varieties in the Americas, so Mexican wine is produced from "international" varieties of French, Spanish and Italian origin.
The white Chardonnay is a grape variety that originated in France (Burgundy). It produces a variety of grape specially used for wine making. It is rare to find this grape to eat on our tables. This variety of grape is characterized by small bunches, and small grapes. White Chardonnay can be found in many vineyards: South West, Burgundy, Jura, Languedoc & Roussillon, Cognac, Bordeaux, Beaujolais, Savoie & Bugey, Loire Valley, Champagne, Rhone Valley, Armagnac, Lorraine, Alsace, Provence & Corsica.
Sequence from the video « At the heart of the Mâcon terroir » which offer a stroll at the heart of the Mâcon terroir. It offers a focus on Mâcon-Solutré-Pouilly, one of the 27 geographical denominations of the Mâcon appellation. Travel through the terroirs of the Mâcon appellation by watching the full video : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GF20y1aBZh8 Both are available in French and English. Our social media: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BourgogneWines Twitter: https://twitter.com/Bour ...
In this first episode of a series dedicated to Chablis wines on @The Wine Show @Home, wine expert and TV host Joe Fattorini introduces the vineyards and the wines of Chablis through a tasting of three wines: a Petit Chablis, a Chablis and a Chablis Premier Cru. #PureChablis #BourgogneWines #Chablis ...
On December 10, 2020, four Hong Kong personalities discussed Chablis wines on a live webinar: Yang LU, Master Sommelier and Official Bourgogne Wines Ambassador, Debra MEIBURG, Master of Wine, Ivy NG, Official Bourgogne Wines Ambassador and Rebecca LEUNG, wine expert. In this 4-minute clip, Debra MEIBURG and Ivy NG illustrate how easily Chablis wines complement all kinds of food, all the way from cheese to caviar! #Chablis #PureChablis ...
