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Sommeliers, Keeping the Bay on the lead in Gastronomy
By Eduardo Rincón-Gallardo mango – Vallarta Gastronomy Paper • October 2008

The dynamics of the world of wine are fascinating, that is why it is so important to keep updated, mainly for the bay area, known to be ―along with Mexico City― the country’s top dining destination.

Some of Mexico’s excellent wines, due to their limited production, are not known internationally; but in gastronomic destinations like Puerto Vallarta and the Bay of Banderas we are fortunate enough to have highly skilled sommeliers, who can help us round-up a dining experience through the magic of “maridaje” or pairing, literally and romantically, a wedding of the most pleasant wine to our dinner selection.

With this in mind, the house of Monte Xanic, from the Valle de Guadalupe, in Ensenada, Baja California, home to the best wines of Mexico; organized a refresher presentation of their wines to the bay’s sommeliers at the magnificent Grand Velas Hotel in Nuevo Vallarta.

Our host was French sommelier Matthieu Guerpillon who introduced us to the new labels of Monte Xanic wines in their 20th anniversary. Monte Xanic settled in the Valle de Guadalupe back in 1987, and their first vintage and wine came out in 1988. He also broke the news about the first oenologic hotel Monte Xanic will open in the Valle de Guadalupe in 2010 which I think will become a landmark in wine tourism for Mexico.

Matthieu then treated us to a bright and refreshing Chenin Colombard 2007; it is really a Chenin Blanc; a very exciting experience, they arrived at this spectacular wine by harvesting its grapes at night when acidity is at its highest, then kept it for a short time in stainless steel containers, I cannot but repeat these three words Spectacular Refreshing Brightness.

Then came an exquisite Malbec 2005, aged for a year and a half in French oak barrels. Its delicate flavor tells us Monte Xanic has come a long way, so far as to compete with the excellent Malbec produced in Argentina.

He topped this degustation with a vigorous Cabernet Sauvignon 2005; there was poetry in its taste and in Matthieu’s description of this wine’s thunderous romance with our senses.

And that is not all, also in Nuevo Vallarta, the Hotel Marival will host the Sommeliers Convention on October 30 & 31st; there will be an exhibit, conferences, workshops and a Gala Degustation Dinner accompanied by the voice of tenor Dante Alcalá.

Welcome again to the fascinating world of wine! There are packages with or without lodging at prices that cannot be beat!

We are looking forward to sharing with you all the wonderful delicacies Mexico has to offer.

You can also learn more about the wines of the Valle de Guadalupe at:
http://www.pvmirror.com/ourtaste/206-marine-wine.html

Eduardo Rincón-Gallardo
E-mail: toureps@prodigy.net.mx

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