Permission requested from smawines.com and they haven’t responded. I’ll keep trying as I do respect copyright, but cannot imagine they’d say no to my reprinting this article!
San Miguel de Allende in Guanajuato, Mexico is considered one of the top travel destinations in the world, and for a good reason. From its Colonial architecture, stunning churches and cobblestone streets to the growing restaurant and entertainment scene, San Miguel is now adding wine as one of its draws.
Although the number of wineries is currently small, the word is getting out about San Miguel de Allende as a wine region because of its ability to produce fine wines. And mostly organic wines, another growing trend in wines around the world. Soon San Miguel de Allende is going to see a surge in new wineries, for both large and small vineyards, as winemakers find the climate and soils almost ideal for growing many varietals of grapes. Here is a look into the current San Miguel de Allende and Guanajuato wineries and entrepreneurs that are pioneering the growth in vineyards and fine wines in this spectacular setting.
Vega Manchon Winery – Cuna de Tierra
This award winning winery began in Dolores Hidalgo, near the historic town of San Miguel de Allende, as the dream and passion of two friends, Don Juan Manchon and Don Ignacio Vega. Their love of wine and the history of wine in the area brought them together to create Bodega Vega Manchon, and Cuna de Tierra.
Don Juan Manchon’s son, Juan Manchon, left Guanajuato’s wine region to study oenology and when he completed his studies he returned to the winery. The first harvest was released in 2005, now under the watchful eye of the new winemaker. With mature 15-year old vines, which have been carefully cultivated over time, the first commercial release from the winery was in 2008. As with all quality vines and a winemaker’s experience, the flavors and complexity of the wines improved. Restaurants in San Miguel de Allende were some of the first to support and sell wines from Vega Manchon.
Cuna de Tierra Wine in San Miguel de Allende
In 2010, the Cuna de Tierra label (Cradle of the Earth) was created and released to the public. It has gone on to become nationally and internationally awarded in wine competitions around the world and is now an important part of the San Miguel wine country.
Growing strictly vinifera grapes and providing precise attention to grape selection, the harvest process and the barrels, Vega Manchon is one of the leading wineries in the Guanajuato, Mexico wine region and rivals wines from around the world.Currently there are 6 red wines offered and 1 white, grown on 30 hectares of vineyards in what is now the San Miguel and Guanajuato wine region. In 2013, 2 famous Mexican architects completed the re-design and construction of the new winery, wine cellar, wine tasting area and welcome facilities.
The Vega Manchon winery is situated 11 kilometers along the Dolores Hidalgo – San Luis de la Paz highway from San Miguel de Allende and the winery offers tours through the vineyards, the wine cellar and patrons can also partake in wine tastings with food pairings. Vega Manchon winery is well worth the journey from San Miguel de Allende to enjoy the true flavors of the grounds around Guanajuato. Vega Manchon is a must see winery along the San Miguel de Allende and Guanajuato Wine Route.
Dos Buhos San Miguel de Allende Winery
Dos Buhos (Two Owls) winery is situated only 6-kms from the charming and historic town of San Miguel de Allende in Guanajuato, Mexico. Owner Diane Maycotte and her husband both have backgrounds and childhoods filled with music, art, culture and creativity. Thus the Dos Buhos winery is an obvious extension of these great ‘loves’. The art and architecture of the winery, the chapel and the wine tasting room are renditions of works of art, by local San Miguel de Allende artists. At Dos Buhos you also will discover an interesting art display which touches on Mexico’s first trains, something that binds Dos Buhos further to Mexico’s history and is very symbolic for the winery.
The property enjoyed 50 years as a livestock farm with fruit production, which 10 years ago was transformed into rows and rows of lush, green San Miguel vineyards. Working and farming the land for so many years has allowed Dos Buhos a headstart on understanding the ‘terroir, or the ground’ and working with the shallow and silty, clay soils.
Wine enthusiasts will know that clay and well draining gravel soils are ideal for growing high quality grapes, but southern facing slopes, with hours of extra maturing time, cool evenings and the fact that San Miguel de Allende is 2,000 meters above sea level, round out the ingredients for a perfect grape growing climate.
Now dedicated to the art of wine making, the owners of Dos Buhos have planted over 3 hectares of vineyards, with 10 different grape varietals. The grape varietals include Tempranillo, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Agilianico, Sauvignon Blanc and Moscato Siallo. Their passion and dedication to the art of wine making, sustainability and respect for the land has led them to growing and producing solely organic grapes and wines.
Dos Buhos is Setting the Pace in San Miguel for Organic Wine Making
Organic Wine Making: Differing from large commercial wineries who harvest with large machinery, Dos Buhos is genuinely a boutique winery, where grapes are harvested manually and only the finest clusters of grapes are used. The wine making process includes the introduction of yeast in order to begin the fermentation process, and in this case, Dos Buhos uses a natural yeast, free of additives or preservatives.
Dos Buhos produces 5,000 bottles of wine annually, currently offered directly from the winery, Wine Expos, restaurants or local San Miguel de Allende shops. Each vintage is uniquely blended according to Mother Nature and the crop that is harvested, offering something new to consumers each year.
Dedicated to not only the art of creating fine wines, Dos Buhos embraces music, art, culture and food in each and every one of their on site events. Truly a celebration of life’s essential elements and not to be missed! Check their website for the next upcoming wine, culinary and art celebration at the winery.
Wine Tasting:
No need of booking, feel free to have a wine tasting in our tasting room from 11am to 4pm.
“First come-first served”. During peak times, there may be a wait for a slot in the tasting room.
Cost: $250 per person.
Guided Wine Tasting:
Learn the basics about wine by tasting 3 and 5 wines, fully explained by a sommelier in the tasting and art room.
From: Monday to Sunday every hour from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm.
It last about: 1 hour
3 wines tasting: $350 per person.
5 wines tasting: $450 per person.
Tour & Wine Tasting:
Learn the personality of the wines by taking a tour of the vineyard (spring and summer only), learning the experience behind the production area and barrel cellar, and finishing by acknowledge the complexity of Dos Buhos’ wines in the art room, by tasting 3 wines and sharing a cheese plate.
*Advance notice is recommended.
Everyday at: 11:00 am, 1:00 pm and 3:00 pm.
It last about: 2 hours
Cost: $450 per person.
Kids from 10 to 16 years: $150
Picnic:
*Only by appointment (24h notice).Everyday at: 11am and 1pm.
It last about: 2 hours and a half.Cost: $650 per person.
Kids from 10 to 16 years: $250Other Services:
The gardens at Dos Buhos are available for you to enjoy the beautiful Hacienda. Please feel free to extend your stay by buying a glass or a bottle of wine that you can perfectly pair with the cheeses and cold meats plates offered.
*Groups of 10 people and more NEED to make a reservation and we will need a 20% deposit to confirm your reservation.
Make Dos Buhos winery a part of your San Miguel de Allende wine experience when visiting the new and emerging Guanajuato wine region.
Vinicola Toyan Winery San Miguel de Allende
Vinicola Toyan, located just 10 minutes from San Miguel de Allende towards Queretaro, began in 1995 as a simple farm and has grown into one of the premier wineries in Guanajuato and San Miguel. At the Toyan Winery, the focus and core beliefs are grounded in sustainability and organic-natural agricultural products, all with the intention and end goal of enhancing health and well-being. As with many farmers in the emerging wine region of San Miguel de Allende, the owners realized that the soil and climate in the area are ideal for growing grapes, so in 2006 they planted their first organic vines. As one of San Miguel de Allende’s newer wineries, the first harvest was in 2008 and in 2012 they finally released their 2009 vintage to the public. Toyan currently offers a Sauvignon Blanc and a Cabernet/ Merlot blend. The winery is using fine oak barrels to mature their reds for 18-months and state of the art, stainless steel tanks, to mature and produce their crisp whites.
Wine and Vineyards in Central Mexico
Placed in the beautiful San Miguel de Allende wine region, this winery was built on a farm that has meteorites, which are said to provide a balance and ‘calming’ energy to the wines, according to the General Manager, Martha Molina.
La Cava ‘the caves’, designed by Senora Molina, are 14 meters below ground and have 24 stone monk sculptures in back-lit niches on the pathway down to the cellar. Here in the cellar there is an exclusive tasting area which also doubles for an event area, be it public or private. Surprisingly there is also a large amphitheater with seating for 1,500 guests. Seeing the cellar and the amphitheater alone are worth the trip to this Guanajuato winery!
The main reception area and ‘store’ at the Toyan winery also offers a fantastic variety of organic fruits, vegetables and products such as ‘jam’ made from their farm fresh and organically grown ingredients. Recently introduced, each Wednesday starting at 11 a.m., they have a farmer’s market with a large variety of fruits and vegetables. Daily, breakfast and lunch are offered featuring homemade, delectable snacks and meals straight from the farm.
Various guided tours of this enchanting San Miguel de Allende winery are available daily. For further information and details call:
01 (415) 152 7400
General Office: 01 (55) 5659 1080
Email: contacto@vinicolatoyan.com
Website: http://www.vinicolatoyan.com
Tres Raíces: San Miguel de Allende’s Newest and Largest Winery
Another stop along the expanding San Miguel de Allende wine route north of town, a new winery, Tres Raíces plans to offer something unique to visitors when it opens in July 2018.
You won’t find the traditional colonial architecture or whitewashed adobe of the region at this winery. Its brand new design is stylish and more modern than most wineries.
Less than an hours drive from San Miguel, this 50-hectare vineyard (largest in SMA) is surrounded by rolling alfalfa fields and will be home to a 12-room boutique hotel with cool bungalows. Guests can stay in these modernist yet elegant cottages and wake up to a sunrise over the valley and platueo. Tres Raices will also boast also wine spa, beautiful gardens, restaurant, tasting room and wine cellar of course.
Visitors will be able to sip wine on the outdoor decks of the property and diners will have sweeping views of the vineyards from their tables. It’s the sort of impressive venue that would be perfect for one of the popular destination weddings that takes place each year in San Miguel, a growing trend in the area, just like the expanding San Miguel Wine Route.
But if the couple to be is serious about the wine too. “This isn’t just some little hotel garden we are tending,” says Alejandra Cordero. The vines here still have six-months to go before they yield their first grapes, but Tres Raíces has already begun producing its 2016 and 2017 vintages. Currently in the works, their first house wines will be crafted from local grapes brought in from an area with a similar high plain desert climate located in Chihuahua. The 2018 collection of reds will include a Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Syrah.
Upon its completion, the vineyard will grow several of its own varietals of grapes of course including Syrah, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Tempranillo, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, and Sauvignon Blanc.
Visitors to Tres Raices will be able to walk along a raised catwalk to observe and learn more about the winemaking process before heading to the tasting room.
Tres Raíces Winery was the dream of three business partners from the state of Tamaulipas who came to San Miguel de Allende, like so many do, on vacation, and fell in love with the area. Each of them had three children, and they envisioned the winery as a way of putting down roots in Guanajuato and creating a legacy to pass along to their kids. It’s why they named the winery Tres Raíces, meaning “Three Roots.”
Tres Raíces hopes to help promote vinitourism in the area around San Miguel de Allende, and of course all of us here at SMAWines.com are here to help.
According to Cordero, “I think this part of Mexico is going to be an innovator. I don’t want to make a wine that tastes like a French wine or an Argentine wine. Mexico is asking itself right now ‘What we can do?’ On a personal level it’s really interesting, it’s a big challenge. I don’t want to make wine like anyone else, I want to be authentic.”
Wine is their priority, but they also plan to give a top-notch customer service, hotel and hospitality experience too. Look for more on Tres Raices Winery as we get closer to their official grand opening. We are all very excited for them.
MOVE TO MEXICO! 