Bodega Roganto
Mexico
A nationally and internationally acclaimed winery and is considered among the top tier of Mexican wines
Begun as a hobby back in 1987, Bodega Roganto began commercial operation in 2001. It is located in the San Jacinto Valley (one of the five valleys in the Valle de Guadalupe), and currently consists of about 60 acres that are home to several varietals including Tempranillo, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Merlot. Bodega Roganto also buys grapes from neighboring farmers located within the Valle de Guadalupe. From the initial 125 cases, the winery has grown to around 20,000 cases (quite a large production for a Mexican winery) and plans to expand its production as its markets dictate. The winery utilizes new barrels of Russian, French, Hungarian and American origin that provide a wide mixture of woods for its blends of varietal wines.
Bodega Roganto is owned by two old friends, Rogelio Sanchez del Palacio and Antonio Luis Escalante, and the name Roganto is a combination of their first names. The wines of Bodega Roganto have won high acclaim (both nationally and internationally) and are considered among the top tier of Mexican wines.
See the other two other featured wineries in this shipment from Mexico!
Vinícola Solar Fortún
Viñedos Malagón
Map of the area
Antonio Escalante - Winemaker
Winemaker Antonio Escalante originally studied agricultural engineering at Instituto Technologico de Monterey and later became a noted well-drilling expert. He is co-owner of Bodega Roganto and handles the winemaking chores with help from Dr. Enrique Ferro Salazar, the celebrated enologist and winemaking consultant. Escalante began as a home winemaker in 1987 and is active in the Confradio del Vino, an organization that brings together restaurants and wineries to celebrate Mexican food/wine pairings.
Wine Regions of Mexico - Baja California & Valle de Guadalupe
There are three areas in Mexico where wine grapes are currently grown: The North area includes Baja California and Sonora, the La Laguna area encompasses Coahuila and Durango, and the Central area consists of Zacatecas, Aguascalientes and Queretaro. Most of these regions have a fairly warm climate, which tends to make Mexican wines spicy, full-bodied, and ripe. Many may know that the 30th parallel (above and below the equator) is considered the theoretical boundary of successful grape growing, so it might be a surprise that a region so close to the tropics can grow grapes at all. Fortunately, the region is arid and vineyards are located at high altitudes, which provides cooler air and an increased diurnal shift (warmer days and colder nights).
Most of the country’s wine is made in Baja California, specifically within the Valle de Guadalupe, and this Valley owes its success largely to its geographic anomaly: the Baja peninsula has a semi-desert climate, but Ensenada’s region has a cold marine current, which helps to produce a Mediterranean-style climate (ideal for growing wine grapes). With its warm summer days and cool nights, and mild winters, this valley produces fine Mexican wines with a style of their own.
Baja California & Valle de Guadalupe:
In terms of quality of wines produced, Baja California is unquestionably Mexico’s top wine producing area. It features an impressive Ruta de Vina (wine route) in the Valle de Guadalupe, Mexico’s best individual growing area that is home to more than 100 wineries. The area is relatively young with most wineries some 30 years old or younger. The area was originally settled by Russian immigrants, many of whom left the area during World War II and headed north to lucrative wartime jobs in California and never returned.
Elevation is the key here, with most vineyards resting above the 1,000-foot level. The area is dry, with mostly clay and calcareous soils, and benefits from the Mediterranean Climate provided by the Pacific Ocean. Excellent morning fogs abound here, similar to those found along the California Coastline that aid the growth of the vines, particularly red varietals.
There is little pretense here and the setting is similar to the Napa Valley of the 1950’s and 60’s. A number of excellent restaurants offer sophisticated food combinations (sometimes called Baja Med Cuisine) at incredibly low prices compared to their North American counterparts. Its main village is called Francisco Zarco and it is in close proximity to the larger Ensenada City, and is just two hours south of San Diego, California.
A large number of varietals are produced in the Valle de Guadalupe, including Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Mourvedre, Nebbiolo, Syrah, Tempranillo and others. Many wineries utilize organic or biodynamic farming that further enhances their fruit and wines.
