Monday, August 6, 2007

Honoring a Mexican Wine Country Founding Father

“Vino-Tourism” by Steve Dryden

• 2007 Person of the Year in Guadalupe Valley: Eduardo Liceaga Campos

It seems like every wine region has a few heroes and pioneers who stand out for their contributions, vision and determination. One such “special soul” is Eduardo Liceaga Campos, owner of Viña de Liceaga Winery in Guadalupe Valley, Baja California, Mexico.

Eduardo is a shinning star in Mexico’s wine industry, and he was one of the founding fathers in the region’s early quest for creating high quality premium wines. His dedication in promoting, marketing and educating consumers on behalf of the wine industry in Baja California has been instrumental in encouraging and supporting development of superior wines, and the wine culture in Mexico.

So, it is with great pleasure that I have chosen him to be the focus for a special interview as the 2007 Person of the Year in Guadalupe Valley.

Eduardo Liceaga Campos was born and educated in Mexico City. He received his college degree in civil engineering, and spent most of his career working in Mexico City developing major construction projects for schools, airports, bus stations, hospitals, office buildings, and condominiums for the government and private companies. His great grandfather, Dr. Eduardo Liceaga, was the famous doctor in Mexico City who fought for the installation of potable water and drainage systems in that city.

In 1904, the senior Liceaga led the successful campaign to stamp out an outbreak of bubonic plague in Mazatlan, and he brought the first anti-rabies vaccine into Mexico.

Son, like father, was a natural leader who used his energy and wisdom to focus on educating his country about good wine and gourmet food. During that process, in 1982, after completing his own incredible career, Eduardo retired to “personal projects” and moved his family to a beautiful location near San Antonio de las Minas in Guadalupe Valley. He purchased fifty acres, and named it Rancho el Paricutin.

Today the winery is known as Viña de Liceaga.

Eduardo’s personal projects soon evolved into vineyards, wine production, wine education and “living the good country life,” emerging him in Mexico’s developing wine industry and culture. And it didn’t take long for him to move into a leadership role in promoting and advancing Mexican wine.

Prior to his arrival in this premier wine region, he had been involved in the international wine culture for over 50 years due to the generosity and wisdom of his grandfather, who first introduced him to Spanish and French wines at the early age of five years old. Eduardo’s appreciation of wine, culinary art, classical music and other diverse interests allowed him to compose a life of sophistication and leisure for his family, friends and fans.

Today, Eduardo continues to develop his personal projects with great vision and determination. Recently he teamed up with Baja Resort Advisors to build “The Villages of the Vineyard” on his fifty-acre property. The managing partner of Baja Resort Advisors is Gabriel V. Robles, president of the Resort Real Estate Developers Association of Baja California. This joint $40M project will feature a 15 acre wine theme Tuscan-style village with 75 homes and a 16 to 20-room boutique hotel. The homes will feature optional one, two and three bedroom units. In addition, a cosmetic surgery center, a full European-type spa, and a wedding chapel will be included in a vineyard setting. The developers will be offering 30-year fixed rate financing, and will allow overflow guests from the hotel and cosmetic center to rent the homes when available. This project will begin during the third quarter of 2007.

Currently Mr. Liceaga is expanding his winery into an incredible multipurpose wine and culinary center. This new complex will host small to large groups, provide educational displays and exhibits, feature a sophisticated wine tasting bar, and provide gourmet delights from a modern kitchen. Guests, wine lovers and tour groups will have an opportunity to purchase wine-related goods while enjoying the natural beauty and ambiance of the property.

The new food and wine complex will provide needed space for a private reserve cellar allowing for a gradual increase to about 10,000 cases of wine per year, and the return of his famous Cabernet Franc within four years. Additional space will be available for commercial offices, cafe-bistro, and upscale restaurants. Live music will be offered on weekends and the facility will be rented for special events, meetings and celebrations.

Viña de Liceaga has been producing award-winning wines for several years. In fact, in 2002 his winery was selected as the Best of Nation (Mexico) in the world’s largest wine competition at the San Francisco International Wine Competition.

Numerous other awards include gold medals from Brussels, Austria and Mexico; as well as silver medals from San Francisco, Israel, Los Angeles, Orange County and Mexico City.  His Gran Reserva Merlot has been the focus of much attention and appreciation from global wine enthusiasts. This marvelous 2004 Merlot is a blend of ninety percent Merlot and ten percent Cabernet Franc.

Today lucky guests can expose their wine-loving palates to his 2003 Merlot Reserva, or Vino Tinto Castillo de las Minas that is a pleasant blend of Merlot and Grenache. His wonderful Castillo de las Minas Chenin Blanc 2005 is a dry table wine made with grapes from the Valle de las Palmas. It has intense tropical fruity aromas of peach, pear, guava, apple, jasmine and citrus fruit.

In addition to indulging in superior wine, guests are offered the rare opportunity to taste his amazing selection of Grappa, called Aqua de Vid. Viña de Liceaga is the only winery in Mexico to make and sell Grappa commercially. Grappa is distilled spirit without color from black grape pomace, fermented and gently pressed from several wine varieties. 

Mr. Liceaga is one of the most knowledgeable wine and food specialists on the west coast, and he is a member of the International Wine and Food Society of London. This nonprofit organization was formed in 1933 with the aim of raising the standard of selection, preparation and service of good food and wine.  The common goal is for members to “learn more about food and wine and enjoy the pleasures of the table.”

In addition, Eduardo Liceaga was the founder of the Chevaliers du Tastevin in Tijuana. The original Chevaliers du Tastevin was created in 1934 in Nuits-Saint-Georges, in response to the economic crisis of the time. Two Burgundians decided to “invite our friends to drink wine, everyone will come if we know how to make them want to.” Basically the group strives to represent Burgundy, its products and traditions. Liceaga’s group in Tijuana does the same.

Today Eduardo Liceaga is still a leader in promoting quality Mexican wines, food and entertainment. And it’s no surprise that he is again leading the way in Guadalupe Valley with a new wine cultural center and resort development.

So, if as of yet you haven’t had the opportunity to meet Don Eduardo now would be a great time to do so! Take time to expose yourselves to the magical world of Eduardo Liceaga Campos, and discover his great wines, his hospitality and his immense knowledge of international wine and food cultures.

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Steve Dryden, a MexiData.info guest columnist, is a wine, travel and history writer for the Baja Times.  Mr. Dryden lives in Guadalupe Valley, Baja California where he also guides private and motor coach tours.  He can be reached at sbdryden@hotmail.com.