Some would say it is typical to find me between wines, though some cheeses that are not so far from my heart. The unusual, no doubt, is that all this happens in Queretaro land and not in my cave and more typical of what I call home: the South Federal District. They are right, it is atypical, but become more accustomed as I have discovered a new me, one who likes to travel and do things always in the most unexpected places and moments.
This time, adventure cheese and wine or 'Querétaro wine' as they call themselves, came to the pleasant company of Fer and Nuri white, more or less on the weekend that marks the beginning of Holy Week (March 28 .) The date is even more rare that the company or place: for many, many years, I've been a fervent promoter of "enjoy" the City, as people leave it in search of beach and sun. The sad thing is that, in recent years, the District feels so ugly or more during the holy week, than during any other.
La Huasteca (or not)
Thus, at this time we decided to do something during the Easter holidays. The initial option was to visit the Huasteca San Luis Potosi, mainly Xilitla. Unfortunately, we decided this too late and when we receive confirmation of the friends who accompany us and try to make reservations, all full. None in the group knew that San Luis Potosi is home to a religious event, throughout the state, called the "procession of silence 'and involving people from throughout the country, so nothing to do.
Querétaro What?
We've all been at one time or another, have spent many times on our way to other places, sounds interesting and would certainly not be as full as San Luis Potosi or common beaches. We referred to Queretaro, of course. So we started planning this espresso and is the first report on our adventures Queretaro.
The adventure will have several key points: Tequisquiapan, Santiago de Querétaro and Jalpan. The first four days were spent in Tequis with Nuri's Friends: Fina and Jesus, together with their children Elizabeth and Galo, opened the doors of their beautiful home in the Golf Club and made us victims of an unusual hospitality and always welcome. From standby in a restaurant at the entrance of town to eat goat and avoid being cut off, besides the constant smiles, coffee and pleasant conversation. By the way, the kid was delicious.
Village Tequis
The first day or rather, the first night, the same Tequis Saturday we went downtown to walk, hear the Church, the central plaza, the office of tourism, invitation to tour with legends (which decided not to attend, it is a fad that although it shows some of the architecture of the peoples of Mexico, is a bit over-valued and is not as interesting) and got several brochures and guides things go around and help plan our next few days.
ended taking a bottle of wine and Mexican cheeses, the first of Freixenet a quiet Gran Reserva red wine very decent and second VAI mixture of cheeses, all made in Queretaro. All this in the Freixenet Wine Bar, in addition to good service and a friendly atmosphere, is in an alley a few yards from the main square, very cute.
Enoturismo
Although we thought peoples to our ease in Queretaro, we find the recommendation to take a tour to visit some of the major vineyards in the municipality of Ezequiel Montes, and a cheese and Peña de Bernal. Drinking wine and driving did not sound like a good idea, so we decided to book our place to attend the tour the next day.
At 8:30 on Sunday we arrived at the venue and our guide, friendly and efficient happened to pick up the other two participants of the visit and departed for VAI Cheese, where we saw a couple of Holstein cows that are display sample of more than 120 heads of cattle used to produce milk cheeses. A humorous tour of the process of creating different types of cheese and a cheese tasting.
From there, we went to the Peña de Bernal, climbed to the base of the rock, and toured the lovely village center of magic, which is as picturesque as Tequisquiapan but not so large. We ate a vanilla ice cream in the central plaza, we were unable to appear at the church and it was 'Palm Sunday' and there were more people in line to enter the church to complete the square. Before leaving we sat down to eat some corn gorditas (black and white) chili cheese filling and served with a stew of your choice, my favorite was picadil and rich beer. A while later we left Cavas Freixenet.
Las Cavas Freixenet were fuller than the church in Bernal and although the visit itself is interesting, as have all the machining show that takes away some points. Do not get me wrong, those are very impressive and Cavas Freixenet Mexico produces many wines, still and sparkling wine of great quality and in huge quantities, which is worthy of admiration and me is excellent. My only complaint is that it feels a big bank deal, like you're a number, like you're watching a museum, rather than a winery. Still, we tasted a wine rich pink semi-dry champagne, which costs $ 90.00 and he was rich.
The visit had been increasing and this point we just a place, the vineyards The Round .. with a craft production (ie less than 30,000 bottles per year) and I must admit I did not know any wine from this vineyard and let me taste the best all day: not only because their wines are very rich, but because the visit was significant, personal, first tasting, where a well prepared and kind woman invited us to try almost all wines, sparkling wine, semi-sweet (cava and quiet), white and red.
Second, a gentleman who clearly knew their vineyards (50 hectares), he knew all the tricks, explained details of planting the vine, their care, pest control (bacteria, fungi, etc.). and other major pests such as rats and other mammals, irrigation, its production, its goals, its philosophy, in order ... a true connoisseur of the land, the vineyard and also seemed genuinely interested in join the followers of Mexican wine and vineyard in particular. I really won.
Still another friend gave us a visit, part of the winemaking process, although here we do not go to their caves, but it was also instructive and helpful. My overall rating for La Redonda is a resounding ten, I think they are doing a great job and his vineyard is interesting and very friendly: they have an Italian restaurant (including a pizza oven exposed to wood) that looks great, although we could not stay and eat there.
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