North America - Mexico Flashcards
What is the climate in Mexico?
Hot Mediterranean to Semi-desert
What are the effects of the Pacific Ocean on Mexico?
Provides Climate moderating fog and cooling breezes
What are the effects of Mountains in Mexico?
Cooler at higher elevations, dinural shifts with cooler nights
What is the soil in Mexico?
Mixed with lots of sand
What are some grape growing characteristics of Mexico?
Water in short supply
Irrigation is essential in the hot/arid climate
Sandy soils keep phylloxera away
What are some winemaking characteristics of Mexico?
Non-traditional blends
The goal is to produce premium wine so some new oak is used
What are the white grapes of Mexico?
Chenin Blanc
Chardonnay
Viognier
Sauv Blanc
What are the red grapes of Mexico?
Tempranillo
Nebbiolo
Cab Sauv
Merlot
Zinfandel
Grenache
Barbera
What ar the wine laws in Mexico?
No laws!
Valle de Guadalupe
- Mediterranean claimte
- Produces 90% of Mexico’s wine
- Southwes tot northeast valleys cutting through the mountains bringing in fog and cooling Pacific Ocean breezes
- 3704 ft of elevation
- Exciting wine region and tourist destination
- Modern winemaking
What styles of wine are made in Mexico?
- White wines can range from crisp to dry to round and full-bodied depending on the grape variety.
- The red wines are fruit-driven, deeply colored, and have elevated alcohol due to warm climate.
What is the history of winemaking in Mexico?
- Mexico is the oldest wine industry outside of Europe
- 1520’s Spanish conquistador Herman Cortes defeated the Aztec Empire claiming it for Spain.
- Orders from the King of Spain degreed planting vines per each native slave.
- 1595 winemaking in Mexico was prohibited by law until Mexican Independence in 1821.
What is the modern history of winemaking in Mexico?
Desite the regions long history, the advance of modern Mexican wine is as recent as the 1970’s.
