The Winery & Tour Muy Especial
Submitted by adambehar on Thu, 06/04/2009 - 05:45.
By: Baja Breeze Staff
For the adventurer and/or daytripper, here’s something different:
About 50 minutes south of Ensenada, you will descend from a steep hillside into the lush and beautiful Valle de Santo Tomas. As you scan this panoramic valley, you will see on the east side of the road the Bodegas de Santo Tomas vineyards.
Miguel Ormart and Francisco Andonegui founded Bodegas de Santo Tomas in 1888, but the original Misión grape vineyards and 100 olive trees were actually planted in the late 1700’s by missionaries and Loreto Amador. General Abelardo Rodriquez purchased the lands in 1932, transforming them into a thriving high-production operation producing more than half-a-million cases of wine annually. Today, under the directorship of Juan Pablo Núñez and the masterful hands of winemaker Laura Zamora, those very old vines and newer ones are generating a wide variety of grapes, resulting in some of Mexico’s finest vintages.
Santo Tomas produces a scope of internationally award-winning labels, including the reserve line known as Vientos; Tardos; Misión, and Eikon. Although all of the Santo Tomas wines are unique, one that particularly seems to strike a chord with its audience is the premium Duetto, a combination of 60% cabernet sauvignon and 40% tempranillo.
Recently, Santo Tomas celebrated its 120th anniversary. An impressive history…and one that is conveyed at all times during the tours that the winery offers of its Valle de Santo Tomas operation. There are several levels of tours, ranging from the most expensive and lengthy VIP tour (which includes an amazing winepairing meal) to a basic tour. But all involve a trip through the vast vineyards on a tractor-pulled taxi to explore the different varietals produced there. The tractor stops at wine barrels that are located throughout the property, denoting a particular type of grape. At one stop, tasters might sip a merlot; at another stop, a viognier, and so forth. There is something very sensual about experiencing the earth, the sun and the wind as you actually taste the wines that they produce.
Climaxing the physical tour is an incredible audio-visual program in an ultra-modern surround-sound environment.
You can also visit the historic Santo Tomas winery and its renowned La Embotelladora Vieja restaurant at 666 Avenida Miramar in downtown Ensenada.
Congratulations to Santo Tomas on 120 years of excellence!
For information about wines or about scheduling tours, call marketing director Iván
Cortez at his Ensenada cell number, (646) 151-9333 or email him at icortez@grupo
pando.com
Submitted by adambehar on Thu, 06/04/2009 - 05:45.
By: Baja Breeze Staff
For the adventurer and/or daytripper, here’s something different:
About 50 minutes south of Ensenada, you will descend from a steep hillside into the lush and beautiful Valle de Santo Tomas. As you scan this panoramic valley, you will see on the east side of the road the Bodegas de Santo Tomas vineyards.
Miguel Ormart and Francisco Andonegui founded Bodegas de Santo Tomas in 1888, but the original Misión grape vineyards and 100 olive trees were actually planted in the late 1700’s by missionaries and Loreto Amador. General Abelardo Rodriquez purchased the lands in 1932, transforming them into a thriving high-production operation producing more than half-a-million cases of wine annually. Today, under the directorship of Juan Pablo Núñez and the masterful hands of winemaker Laura Zamora, those very old vines and newer ones are generating a wide variety of grapes, resulting in some of Mexico’s finest vintages.
Santo Tomas produces a scope of internationally award-winning labels, including the reserve line known as Vientos; Tardos; Misión, and Eikon. Although all of the Santo Tomas wines are unique, one that particularly seems to strike a chord with its audience is the premium Duetto, a combination of 60% cabernet sauvignon and 40% tempranillo.
Recently, Santo Tomas celebrated its 120th anniversary. An impressive history…and one that is conveyed at all times during the tours that the winery offers of its Valle de Santo Tomas operation. There are several levels of tours, ranging from the most expensive and lengthy VIP tour (which includes an amazing winepairing meal) to a basic tour. But all involve a trip through the vast vineyards on a tractor-pulled taxi to explore the different varietals produced there. The tractor stops at wine barrels that are located throughout the property, denoting a particular type of grape. At one stop, tasters might sip a merlot; at another stop, a viognier, and so forth. There is something very sensual about experiencing the earth, the sun and the wind as you actually taste the wines that they produce.
Climaxing the physical tour is an incredible audio-visual program in an ultra-modern surround-sound environment.
You can also visit the historic Santo Tomas winery and its renowned La Embotelladora Vieja restaurant at 666 Avenida Miramar in downtown Ensenada.
Congratulations to Santo Tomas on 120 years of excellence!
For information about wines or about scheduling tours, call marketing director Iván
Cortez at his Ensenada cell number, (646) 151-9333 or email him at icortez@grupo
pando.com