Monday, September 28, 2009

 Doña Lupe Wines to be featured in Rosarito Beach, Mexico

'Vino-Tourism' by Steve Dryden

The Rosarito Beach Hotel, in Baja California, Mexico, will premier three new wines from La Casa de Doña Lupe, matched with three gourmet entrees from the culinary wizards in the kitchen of Chabert’s Restaurant, on Saturday, October 3rd, at 7:30 p.m.  Winemaker Daniel Yi will present his latest artisan wines with the assistance of Laura Wong and Steve Dryden from the Baja Times.

Daniel Yi will pour his first-ever white wine, 2008 Chardonnay, along with his 2007 Nebbiolo and Cabernet Sauvignon blend, and a new dessert wine, Señorita, a blend of late harvest Grenache and Sauvignon Blanc.  In addition, we’ll be selling a selected variety of Dona Lupe’s artisan gourmet marmalades, salsa, pesto and olive oils. One lucky guest will win a jar of marmalades for answering a trivial question about the history of la Casa de Doña Lupe in Valle de Calafia of northeastern Valle de Guadalupe. Don’t miss this rare opportunity to sample handmade wines from Mexico’s premier wine country, along with culinary delights, live music and good company.

In 1968 Doña Lupe and her son, Daniel Yi Cordova, arrived in Guadalupe Valley, joining a handful of local country farmers growing table and wine grapes. She was the first woman in Mexico to grow grapes commercially, initially selling her grapes to the Pedro Domecq and L.A. Cetto wineries. She eventually decided to keep her harvest and create a small family winery.

Doña Lupe was a revolutionary pioneer in being the first vineyard manager to use drip irrigation on grapevines in Valle de Guadalupe. This “dynamic woman” is no stranger to country life, fully understanding the power of working and living in harmony with nature. Her childhood on a remote ranch in Sonora gave her the opportunity to grow food, can fruits, preserves and vegetables, raise cattle, make soap, keep bees, and make leather goods from rawhide. She earned her “global perspective” riding two days on horseback to the next town for supplies and socials.

Subsequently her family settled in Guadalupe Valley, planting grapes, making jug wines, and selling grapes to some of the bigger wineries.  After a few years in the valley she made the decision to create an organic farm and vineyard, working with the abundant natural resources in the area. Today she has one of the finest organic vineyards in Mexico, and her “old vine” Grenache grapes are of superior quality. Locals and tourists alike flock to see this “legendary woman” and experience her orchestration of natural products created in harmony with nature’s eternal symphony of abundance.

Daniel Yi Cordova grew up in Baja California’s premier wine producing region, experimenting and studying the art of making organic wines for eight years.  He inherited his mother’s creative nature, independence and determination to work with nature by harvesting superior natural products. He fought local criticism and negative attitudes towards organic vineyards, but in spite of all the obstacles he was able to master his skills in creating outstanding organic wines. He uses no herbicides, pesticides, chemical fertilizers, or any other toxic poisons in the fields or in his organic winemaking processes. His wine reflects the supreme integrity and purity of nature working through those who love and respect all that is natural. Doña Lupe and Daniel’s hard work has brought success to this family of creative naturalists and artisans.

Two years ago the daughter of Doña Lupe, Shirley Yi, returned to the family farm bringing her creative skills in baking gourmet delights, fresh breads and pizza. She’s transformed the tasting room into a sensual delight of aromas from baked goods, incense, herbal tonics, spices, cakes, and other culinary creations. In a way, she is “the icing on the cake” for this family-owned destination of immense popularity.

Nature seems to prevail on this scenic ranch, which is further expressed in the employment of several local ladies of natural beauty, raised simply on the land of the nearby Mexican ranchos. In these times of economic uncertainty, natural beauty and “down to earthiness” is once again becoming popular and much appreciated.

In the end, simple living in a slower-paced environment will be the key to survival of the planet and a few lucky individuals. Doña Lupe and her family just happen to be a little ahead of their time and are members of a small group of global visionaries in the “return to terroir” (Renaissance des Appellations) movement.

According to Danile Yi, “many of our vines are from massal, rather than clonal selection. Our vines are grown from the best cuttings in our vineyard, so they express their true identity and maintain the family heritage. Clones create wines that taste the same; here we let nature express herself through individual vines in terroir that reflects nature’s intent of giving in return for some tender, loving care, rather than bombardment with chemical manipulation.” To experience these wines and to meet Daniel Yi, please come to Chabert’s on Saturday, October 3, at 7:30 p.m. Reservations: (52) 661-612-1111; 661-612-1126; or 800-265-2322.

And, speaking of natural wonders, don’t miss Three Women or Tres Mujeres Winery on November 7th at Chabert’s Restaurant. Ivette Vaillard, Eva Cotero Actanirano and Laura MacGregor Garcia will present their artisan wines, matched with culinary delights from our kitchen. This dynamic trio of women has teamed up in a cooperative manner to create three interesting and unique styles of winemaking.  Tres Mujeres are wine artisans who pool their energy, talent and vision into perfecting the art of handmade wines.

This communal effort has built a dedicated family of friends and visitors who seem to embrace the idea of “cooperation can achieve anything.” Quite often visitors and wine drinkers to this winery are touched by the spirit of it all and find themselves jumping into action. Total strangers who happen along have been known to help with harvesting, bottling, moving barrels, cracking walnuts, gathering fresh eggs, or whatever else seems to be happening at the time.

Three Women and their friends are a prime example of people working together in harmony, having fun, while improving the quality of life for all involved. I think you’ll discover an amazing group of women who are creating some very good wines. We hope you can join us in October and November to explore the natural wonders of Guadalupe Valley.

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Steve Dryden is a wine, food and travel writer living in Valle de Guadalupe, in northwestern Baja California, where he guides individual and small group wine tours. He can be reached at sbdryden@hotmail.com. Visit his new blog at www.winefoodguide.com.