Central Mexico Wine Tours by Epicurean Expats

Mexico has been making wine longer than any other country in the Americas, a full 242 years longer than the oldest winery in the United States. But for social, religious and govermental reasons wine has not been fully embraced by the native population. This country has been a tequila, brandy and beer culture for hundreds of years as these are enjoyed in abundance at fiestas and celebrations.

Wine is still considered a beverage for the wealthy and foreigners, but times are changing. With wineries opening world-class restaurants and event spaces, wine is becoming more accessible to the people. Enotourism is becoming a new revenue stream for many in the agricultural and tourism industries.

The Difference Between Baja Wine and Central Mexico Wine

If you see a Mexican wine outside of Mexico, more than likely it’s from the Baja wine region. Ninety percent of the wines exported from Mexico are from the Baja California peninsula. While Baja is more established in wine tourism, emerging regions should not be overlooked.

Central Mexico is making wines of exceptional quality and can easily compete on the international stage. Baja makes wines in the jammy, low acidity style of California (think Paso Robles with even more overripe fruit), but Central Mexico produces wines in a European style, with more structure and higher acidity due to the semi-arid climate and 30-40 degree diurnal temperature swings.

Read our post: Queretaro winery: Puerta del Lobo Winery

Wine Tourism in Central Mexico

There is a lot going on in the wine regions of Central Mexico, particularly in Queretaro and Guanajuato. There seems to be a wine festival every month between March and November. Some of the more popular ones are the 100 Mexican Wines Fest in February (different location every year), BubbleFest in March at Freixenet Finca Sala Vivé and vendimias (harvest) during the months of July, August and September. Music, food and of course, lots of wine are always on the itinerary.

Wine tasting in Central Mexico is very different from visiting wineries in the United States. If you have visited wineries on the West coast of the U.S. you have no doubt experienced the cash-and-dash approach where you run in, pay $10-$15, taste the wines and drive 10 minutes down the road to the next winery. While Mexican wineries are adding wine bars, you will still neeed an advocate to help move things along if you don’t want to spend half your day at just one winery.

In Central Mexico, you need to make a reservation. Everything is an experience. You will tour the vineyard or the barrel room, see the fermentation tanks, then sit down to a detailed instructor-led see, swirl, smell and sip. They don’t always have tasting guides scheduled and finding someone who speaks English can be hard to come by. And this is where we come in. We offer the best private wine tasting tours for you to explore the wineries of Queretaro and soon San Miguel de Allende.

Our Wine Experience

We live in and love colonial Mexico. We have explored every corner of Queretaro and Guanajuato and have customized our tours according to specific interests. We’ve explored many wineries and winefests on our own, and have become familiar with many of the wineries.

Tom has worked in the wine industry for 33 years and is a walking wine encyclopedia. He can tell you about the terroir, climate, crush and fermentation process. Tiffany has worked in tourism from theme parks and conventions for 25 years.

We feel we would be the perfect tour guides for you because of our prior wine industry experience, knowledge of the Mexican roads and personal relationships with the wineries.

Wine Tours by Epicurean Expats

Queretaro has so much to offer with its beautiful historical center, wine region and natural wonders. We want you to be able to experience it all, and we’ve put together a few tours that let you maximize your time and experiences. Whether you want to focus just on wine, have time to shop for artisan crafts or spend time in the outdoors, we have the perfect tour for you.

If you would prefer to customize your tour, please fill out the form below and we will help you with the itinerary and pricing.

The prices below are for pick up/drop off in Queretaro.

If you would like us to pick you up from San Miguel, do a tour and drop you off in Queretaro (or vice versa), please add a flat fee of $50USD to any of the tours below.

The Perfect Wine and Pueblo Magico Tour

$195.00 each (for 1-2 people), $175.00 each (for 3-4 people), (5 ppl and up $195.00 each)

*All Inclusive- 8 hours

Who Would Enjoy This? Almost everyone! It has a little bit of everything.

Explore the wine region of Queretaro and hike the third largest monolith in the world!

This day trip is the perfect mix of outdoor fun and wine tasting. Start your morning hiking the third largest monolith in the world, Pena de Bernal, in the little pueblo magico of Bernal. Afterwards, grab a gordita and wander the little shops for cajeta, cheese and souvenirs. Dine on a 4-course food and wine pairing on the outdoor patio of Vinaltura. Continue on to the second winery where you will taste 2 whites and 2 sparkling wines with a cheese and charcuterie board. You can choose to stay longer to enjoy one of the best restaurants in Queretaro.

Included:

hiking admission, a gordita, 4-course food and wine pairing at Vinaltura, tasting of 4 wines with cheese and charcuterie board at Puerta del Lobo, transportation and water.

The Wine Lovers Tour

$235.00 each (for 1-2 people), $215.00 each (for 3-4 people), (5 ppl and up $235.00 each)

*All Inclusive- 8 hours

Who Would Enjoy This? As the name implies, wine lovers.

If you want to visit the best wineries, this tour is for you. We will taste a total of 12 wines at three different wineries. This tour will showcase the best grape varietals that grow in this region. One winery will include a 4-course food and wine tasting. The other two wineries will include a cheese and charcuterie board.

*Price includes all food and wine. It does not include touring the production areas.

The Pueblos Magicos Tour

$160.00 each (for 1-2 people), $140.00 each (for 3-4 people), (5 ppl and up $160.00 each)

Who Would Enjoy This? Shoppers, photographers and cultural lovers. Wednesday-Sunday

Visit two unique pueblos magicos in the state of Queretaro. In Bernal, you will have time to climb the third largest monolith in the world or visit the Mask Museum and shop for unique gifts like spirit stones, cajeta and handmade clothing. Next, we visit the Vinaltura winery for a 4-course food and wine pairing with a spectacular view of Pena de Bernal over the vineyards. We will finish in Tequisquiapan where you will have time to wander the twisting streets, visit the artisan mercado and soak up the slower pace of Mexican life around the plaza.

Included:

Hiking or museum admission, 4-course food and wine pairing, transportation and bottled water

San Miguel Tours Coming Soon!

Because of coronavirus restrictions and roadblock checkpoints this winter, we are postponing tours around San Miguel at this time.

Payment and Additional Information

Payments can be made through PayPal, Zelle or cash in person.

*A supplemental charge may be added for solo travelers depending on their itinerary.

Why Are Our Wine Tours A Great Value?

-English-speaking.

-Individualized attention.

-We take pictures of you throughout your tour (candid and posed).

-We have already done the research for you to found the best wineries.

-We make the reservations for you.

-We show you the regional and local food of the area(s).

-Expat wannabe? Ask us anything about living in Mexico.

-We are experienced at Mexican driving.

There are 2 speeds on Mexican highways: Mach 7 or turtle crawl. Nothing in between.

Fully Customize Your Tour

If you would like to customize your tour, we want to know more about what interests you.

Tell us your wine preferences, what you want to experience, see, taste, do. These can include local food, a high-end restaurant, hiking, mercados, etc.

The more details you can give us on what you enjoy, the easier it is to narrow down the wineries and attractions for you.

What types of wines do you like?
Whites, reds, sparkling?
Grape varietals?
Oak or unoaked?

Make the most of your vacation or recon trip with the most customized tour available anywhere. We look forward to introducing you to this exceptional wine region.