Monday, July 12, 2010

Concerts and Gourmet Cuisine in Mexico's Wine Country

'Vino-Tourism' by Steve Dryden

Baron Balch’e will host another major concert event on August 21st, part of Mexico's Fiestas de la Vendimia, at the Baron Balch’e winery in Valle de Guadalupe, Baja California, featuring the acoustical guitar music of Paco Renteria.

Paco Renteria is a talented musician who has played with Carlos Santana and Luciano Pavarotti, and he wrote the original composition, "El Mariachi," that was used as the theme song for the film Desperado. In addition, he wrote and performed the promotional sound track for Steven Spielberg’s "The Legend of Zorro."  Paco has received many international awards, including a 2002 Grammy nomination. As well, he has performed over 2,500 concerts around the world, and written more than 300 original musical compositions for guitar.  His style of music is a masterful blend of gypsy, flamingo, African, oriental and progressive jazz.

Paco has performed in the Napa Valley wine country, receiving rave reviews from concert goers and the media alike. According to Napa valley publications: “Profound and electrifying … pure exhilaration, taking tradition as a blueprint for ecstasy,” said the St. Helena News Times. And, the Evening Sun of Napa Valley commented, “Paco’s guitar music is fit for kings…those listening to Renteria were held transfixed as he dazzled and hypnotized with delicious ease…he built a transcendental holding pattern of reminiscent spiritual nourishment.”

Paco started playing the guitar at age 7, graduated from the Music School by age 14, holds two university degrees, one in Law and the other in Business Administration. He is the first and only artist of any nature that has been invited to perform at the National Palace of Justice, and the National Supreme Court of Justice, both in Mexico City.

Limited tickets are still available for this Fiestas de la Vendimia event at the Baron Balch’e winery vineyard grounds in Valle de Guadalupe. Tickets are US$125 per person, includes the concert, a catered dinner and four bottles of wine per table of eight people (1/2 bottle per person). Seating begins at 6 p.m., with the concert/dinner beginning at 8 p.m. and lasting until 11 p.m. You can purchase advance tickets:  www.ticketmovil.com.mx, or get more details from: Alejandro Robles 760-557-3588 or (011-52) 664-630-0604; Cell: (011-52) 664-312-1909 or Nextel: 125*321403*14.

The concert at Baron Balch’e will be filmed for The Grapevine TV Series (El Ocho, or 8) Cable TV in Ensenada, and it will be broadcasted globally.

L.A. Cetto winery will be offering concerts in Valle de Guadalupe on August 14th, during Cetto’s Annual Fiesta de la Vendimia in Guadalupe Valley; and on October 2nd, with the Concert Cierre de Fiestas, with Raul Di Blasio (011-52) 646-155-2264 or www.cettowines.com .

La Villa de Valle, a popular B&B in the heart of Mexico’s premier wine country of Valle de Guadalupe, is now offering breakfast, lunch and dinner to non-overnight guests who want to sample gourmet cuisine. This is the perfect escape for those wine and food lovers seeking personal attention, privacy, romantic ambience and artisan cuisine in a natural, remote setting with vineyards and an artisan winery.

Talented chef Jose Maria Garcia Ramos, or “Chema,” creates elegant meals with a focus on promoting the full flavors of the original or main ingredients. His cooking light style in orchestrating gourmet cuisine is not overwhelmed with spices, herbs or sauces, thus allowing culinary explorers the ability to discover the full flavors of fresh Baja California products. He enhances his art with a blend of local, national and international cooking methods he fondly calls “Mexi-terranean.” The secret to his culinary success is the use of fresh produce from onsite gardens, local products, and the composition of innovative recipes.

The final magical touch is provided with their own wines that pair well with all their culinary delights. Owner/winemaker Phil Gregory makes premium wine from Cabernet Sauvignon and Tempranillo, and various blends of Syrah, Petite Sarah, Grenache and Cabernet Sauvignon.

According to Eileen Gregory, “we can cater to one person or groups of up to forty people, but we definitely need reservations and advance notice. We’ll be hosting our own event for Fiestas de la Vendimia on the 21st of August, featuring one of the top 100 chefs in the world — Enrique Olivera from Pujol Restaurant in Mexico City.” You can contact La Villa from the US at (818) 207-7130; in Mexico at 646-156-8007; or www.lavilladelavalle.com.

For those who are still seeking events, or want tickets for La Vendimia Festival programs in August 2010, you still have a short time to make that happen. Some tickets are still available for other Vendimia events at www.fiestasdelasvendimia.com.

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For a Baja California Wine Route map, click on MexiData.info "Links," and go to "Mexico Maps and Time Zones"

Steve Dryden is a wine, food and travel writer living in Valle de Guadalupe, Mexico’s premier wine country in northwestern Baja California, where he guides individual and small group wine tours. He can be reached at sbdryden@hotmail.com.  For current and updated Mexican wine country information please visit: www.bajawineandcuisine.com and www.winefoodguide.com.