Wines from Mexico
Meet the professionals of the Mexican wine sector
Ruta del Vino: Build and They Will Drink
by Steve Dryden (3/3)
Travel Baja California (continued)
Today, Pau Pijoan has a small winery located in a beautiful, remote location in the valley where he produces distinct wines reflecting his commitment and determination under Hugo’s guidance and direction.
Viñas Pijoan winery is home to his dreams and passion, allowing for creation of about 1000 cases of handcrafted wines per vintage. His winemaking philosophy centers around making supreme wines with concentrations of ripe fruit and less oak. This strategy reflects his thought that many wines are overpowered by oak hindering
the true
expression of
the fruit. His
style of
winemaking
allows him to
release young
wines that are
drinkable and
delicious at an
early age,
providing his
local followers
with quality
wines and giving him a faster return on his investment. These wines have a “cult” following in Mexico City and each vintage is often sold out soon after release! His marketing strategy is to “let the wines sell themselves.” And they are doing just that! Most of his wines sell out each year with many cases being shipped to Mexico City
Pau Pijoan’s future vision calls for a larger winemaking facility with the addition of more estate vineyards enabling him to create about 2,500 cases per year. In addition to expanding his Mexican wine market, he also looks towards the US as a future market. He notes that San Diego County consumes more wine than the entire country of Mexico and that in the next year or two the US will be the largest wine consumer in the world. If Pau Pijoan continues with his passion and determination in creating honest wines of integrity, I’m sure his wines will be embraced by wine enthusiasts from around the globe.
It’s now easy to access Viñas Pijoan by following the new road from Francisco Zarco for about ten miles, three miles past Bibayoff Winery and look for the sign on your left. Open with prior reservations on Sat/Sun. Phone: (646) 178-3482 or cell # (646) 171-7179
The new addition to the Ruta del Vino opens a new and more civilized wine world. And, just when I thought life couldn’t get any better in Mexico’s wine culture, I discovered that Done Lupe’s cute and creative daughter, Shirley Yi, is now making and selling
fresh pizza. Every Saturday and Sunday Shirley fires up her pizza oven and provides several awesome pizza options to include: Pizza Pepperoni Clasica, Pizza Mexicana, Pizza Vegetariana, Pizza Hawaiiana, Pizza Españala, and several types of gourmet Italiano Calzone. Of course, all this takes place while I’m on a nutritional program, but at least she uses organic crust with flax seed and other natural wonders. I guess if I die eating her pizza, at least it will be from an “organic” heart attack.
Well, there you have it, all the news from Valle de Guadalupe with paved roads, families playing, Pau Pijoan and pizza. Life is good here in the valley, peaceful, serene and tranquil. If only the rest of the world would listen to what we’ve been saying here since 1905: “Make Wine, Not War.” You don’t have to be a Russian Molokan to understand that - do you? The wine industry and culture has driven our economy here in the valley and
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has vastly improved the lives of everyone in our community. And, drinking wine has been proven by international medical professionals to significantly benefit your health when used in moderation. Life should be a celebration of creation and all things good, and now we have another wonderful new wine route to explore and discover the “good life” in Valle de Guadalupe.
Steve Dryden is a wine and travel writer living in Guadalupe Valley where he guides individual and small group wine tours. He can be reached at: sbdryden@hotmail.com or in Mexico at: 646 118-9801
