Casa Pedro Domecq
- Location: Km 73.5 Highway # 3, Francisco Zarco – Valle de Guadalupe
- Web Site: www.vinosdomecq.com.mx
- Telephone: (646) 155-233/155-2249 /155-2254
- Hours: Open from Monday to Friday 10:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. and Saturdays from 10:00 A.M. to 1:30 P.M. Call for reservations
- Directions: From the ocean, take Highway # 3 into the Valle de Guadalupe, Pass San Antonio de la Minas and drive all the way to the end of the Valle de Guadulupe (about 20 minutes). You will see the big Winery there on the left side right before you get to the “Thank You for Visiting The Ruta de Vinicola Sign”
At the end of the Valle de Calafia sits Pedro Domecq Winery. Domecq (Vides del Guadalupe) was the first commercial winery in the valley.
The formidable and Spanish-sounding Domecq was actually founded in Spain by the Irishman, Patrick Murphy. Domecq international headquarters can be found in the old part of Jerez, Spain hidden behind long, whitewashed walls protecting the vaulted bodegas of the great sherry houses, high roofed, cool and classic buildings where row after row of tanks hold maturing sherry. This company is the driving force behind the modernization of winemaking and viticulture throughout Spain and is partly responsible for the new wave of world class Spanish wines. Pedro Domecq also produces El Presidente Brandy, Blue Rhin Lieberaumilch, Champagne Mumm Cordon Rouge, Spanish and Argentine wines at various locations around the world.
Seventy-five percent of the Domecq wine business has been recently purchased by Pernod Ricard. The winery name here in Mexico will remain Domecq and a new logo is in the works. New labels are now on all bottles of wine. The most exciting news is the introduction of a new wine, Reserva Magna and the announcement of a new Argentine winemaker, Sebastian Suarez. The previous winemaker, Jose Luis Durand stills works in the region and is now making his own superior and outstanding wines with a business partner.
Reserva Magna is a blend of about sixty percent Cabernet Sauvignon, twenty percent Merlot and 20 percent Nebbiolo. It’s aged eighteen months in new French oak and bottled aged for a minimum of one year before release. Brilliant intense red color, well defined body, velvety, complex, notes of red fruits, hint of oak with a long humble finish. An excellent wine that would compliment New Zealand lamb, veal: osso buco alla milanese or braised veal shoulder, tender fillet mignon, sirloin strip, rib eye steak and many other culinary combinations to suit your own taste.
Domecq wines are marketed under several labels including: Calafia, X-A, and Padre Kino. Their premium wines are the Reserva and Chateau labels and fine wines are under the XA label. One of the most popular XA wines is the Blanc de Blanc: 100 % Chenin Blanc, low temperature fermentation in stainless steel with no oak or bottle aging. It’s very light in color with slight sweetness and acidity, fruit aromas and flavors with a clean lingering finish.
Domecq has a beautiful tasting room overlooking the Valle de Calafia. Tasting room hours are M-F 10-4 and Sat 10-1:30. Tasting fees are $2.50 per person for samples of three red and two white wines. The popular and interesting winery tours are again offered with no charge. Minerva Cerda is the bilingual tour and tasting manager and can be reached at 646 155-2249 extension 110. The winery offers quality wines at reasonable prices and is located on the Ensenada-Tecate Highway 3, Km 73 at the eastern end of Guadalupe Valley.
