11 Surprising Facts About Mexican Wine
Are you ready to learn something new and fun about Mexican wine today? Here are 11 surprising facts about Mexican wine that most people don’t know!
Whether you’re just getting started with Mexican wine or you’re a connoisseur looking to improve your wine trivia, this should be a fun read!
1. Mexico is home to the oldest winery in the Americas
Mexico is home to Casa Madero, the oldest operating winery in the Americas (including South, Central, and North America).
The winery was founded in 1597 in Parras de la Fuente, a town in the northern Mexican state of Coahuila. The winery is still operating today and is one of the most recognizable Mexican wine brands.
2. Mexico’s yearly wine consumption per capita is 1.2 liters
According to Hans Backhoff, president of the Mexican Wine Council, wine consumption per capita in Mexico increased more than sixfold in 15 years, going from 180 milliliters in 2006 to 1.2 liters in 2020. Yes, that’s right – only 1.2 liters (about 6 glasses) a year!
Check out how wine consumption per capita in Mexico compares with other countries around the world.
3. Only 5% of Mexican wine is exported
Mexico has a young wine industry, and production is still small. According to Hans Backhoff, president of the Mexican Wine Council, as of 2021, only 5% of Mexican wine was exported.
4. Valle de Guadalupe produces 2/3 of all Mexican wine
If you’re unsure where to start with Mexican wine, Valle de Guadalupe wines are definitely a good place to start! Also referred to as “Baja” and “Guadalupe Valley,” the area is responsible for about 2/3 of all wine production in Mexico.
The other main Mexican wine regions are Coahuila (8.5%), Querétaro (4%), and Guanajuato (2.3%).
Source: Consejo Mexicano Vitivinícola
5. Taxes make up at least 42% of the cost of your wine in Mexico
This is probably the saddest fact about the Mexican wine industry – taxes are incredibly high. Wines are taxed at 16% IVA (Impuesto al Valor Agregado), plus an IEPS (Impuesto Especial sobre Producción y Servicios) of anywhere from 26.5% to 30%.
To give you an idea of how that compares with other countries, wine sales taxes in the United States consist of state sales taxes as well as applicable city and county rates. The average wine tax rate in California is 8.2%, in Oregon 0%, and in New York 8.6%.
6. Women are the top wine consumers in Mexico
Hans Backhoff mentioned this in an interview with Lider Empresarial Magazine in 2021, and we were surprised to learn it. Even though wine businesses have focused much of their marketing efforts on men for years, recent data shows that women are the top wine consumers in Mexico, accounting for 55% of wine consumption in the country.
7. Only 29% of the wine consumed in Mexico is produced locally
According to data from the Mexican Wine Council, only 29.3% of the wine consumed in Mexico is produced locally, with the remainder supplied by imported wines.
One of the main reasons is that domestic wine production isn’t large enough to supply the entire Mexican market.
8. Mexican Nebbiolo wines are a must!
If you like full-bodied red wines, you can’t go wrong with Mexican Nebbiolo.
The grape, native to Piemonte and the star of famous Italian wines such as Barolo and Barbaresco, is considered by many winemakers to be one of the most representative grapes of Mexico and one that has adapted particularly well to the terroir, especially in Valle de Guadalupe.
Mexican Nebbiolo wines tend to be fuller-bodied, less tannic, and more fruit-forward than their Italian counterparts. Due to the warmer climate, Mexican Nebbiolo also tends to show riper, darker fruit flavors.
9. Mexico doesn’t have any wine appellations or denominations
If you usually buy French or Italian wines, you’re probably familiar with the AOC and DOCG systems those countries use to regulate wine production.
Mexico, similar to most New World wine regions, doesn’t have appellations or denominations. That means there aren’t many rules and regulations when it comes to wine production.
It might seem a bit too relaxed at first glance, but the truth is that it allows for more creativity and experimentation. Mexico is still finding its identity when it comes to wine, so the freedom to try new grapes and winemaking techniques is essential for winemakers looking to push boundaries and discover what Mexican terroir can do best.
Source: Forbes Mexico
10. Mexico produces excellent natural wines
Natural wine is still relatively niche in Mexico, but there are at least 10 Mexican natural wine producers that we know of.
We work directly with several Mexican natural wine producers who release world-class natural wines vintage after vintage.
11. Only 10 grapes represent 70% of Mexican wine production
Ten grape varieties account for more than two-thirds of wine production in Mexico, with Cabernet Sauvignon leading the pack at 20%.
Red wine grapes: Cabernet Sauvignon 20%, Merlot 8%, Syrah 6%, Nebbiolo 6%, Tempranillo 5%, Zinfandel 4%, and Cabernet Franc 3%.
White wine grapes: Chardonnay 8%, Chenin Blanc 5%, and Sauvignon Blanc 4%.
Our data sources
Hans Backhoff Interview for Lider Empresarial
Forbes México: ¿El vino mexicano cuenta con Denominación de Origen?
Consejo Mexicano Vitivinícola – Producción de Vino en México
Business Insider Mexico – Curiosidades del Vino Mexicano
The World of Wine Report
