Mexico

Mexico is the oldest wine-producing country in the Americas, with viticulture dating back to 1521, just one year after the Spanish conquest. Vines were planted as part of the Spanish effort to establish European agriculture in the New World. In 1524, Hernán Cortés, then governor of New Spain, issued a decree mandating that Spanish settlers granted land by the Crown plant 1,000 vines for every 100 indigenous workers under their control. This led to a rapid increase in vineyard establishment, and by the late 16th century, Mexico was self-sufficient in wine production. Notable vineyards such as Hacienda de San Lorenzo, now Casa Madero (founded in 1597), emerged during this period. However, Mexico’s growing self-sufficiency in wine production drew complaints from Spanish wine producers. In response, King Philip II of Spain banned the planting of new vineyards in the colonies, stifling Mexico’s wine industry for centuries. The revival of Mexican wine production began in the mid-19th century with vineyards such as Bodega Ferriño in Coahuila (1860) and Santo Tomás in Baja California (1888). A more significant resurgence occurred between the 1950s and 1970s, marked by the establishment of prominent wineries like Domecq (1958) and L.A. Cetto (1964) in Baja California and La Redonda (1972) in Querétaro. (source) The mid-1990s brought challenges with the signing of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and the Mexico-EU Free Trade Agreement. These agreements increased the availability of cheaper imported wines, causing many Mexican wineries to close. In response, the industry modernized, prioritizing quality over quantity and emphasizing national pride in Mexican wine. This shift has contributed to the growing reputation of Mexico's wine regions, particularly the Valle de Guadalupe in Baja California, as producers of high-quality wines.