Mexican wine in l.a.

[linus]

dear gang:

rather than call or drive around, i thought i'd ask if anyone had seen any for sale in the wine stores, and who, if anyone, has the best selection.

thanks,
el linus

[misenplace66]

Stacie Hunt of DuVin Wine on San Vicente in West Hollywood is big Baja Wine Advocate. They have carried wines in the shop, but a recent search yielded one bottle available of one wine (blanking on which one.)

Do wish there was more representation in LA...we'll keep searching!

[streetgourmetla]

My favorites are Casa Valmar, Tres Mujeres, Casa de Piedra, Vinas Piojan, Mogor Badan, and Vinisterra.L.A. Cetto is a mass producer of wines in Mexico and while it does have some decent bargain wines, it doesn't really reflect the emerging character of Mexican wines in Baja California.They make obstensibly Italian varietals and are focused on exporting affordable wines in the fashion of a Gallo or Mondavi model.

When tasting these wines, it is a little silly to expect it to measure up to your favorite Burgundy, Bordeaux, or Napa cab.In the first place, this is quite narrow to have such expectations.Many of these wines are fantastic and deliver new and exciting flavors.In context, a Casa de Piedra Tempranillo stands up to a steak with guajillo chile sauce and nopales much better than a Graves or a Paulliac.Mogor Badan's Chasselas is brilliant with queso fundido.Wine is just like food.We love a range of foods from different cultures and the best street food is just as substantial as haute cuisine.

There are some restaurants that serve Monte Xanic here in L.A.Tlapazola Grill carries these excellent wines, and I believe the Spanish Kitchen has Mexican wines,too.

I would try these wines with Mexican food, not a Mediterranean restaurant like Laja.Laja is great, but why go to Mexico to have Mediterranean food?To each his/her own, but I think this misses the point. Would we go to Greece or Sicily looking for sopes or carne asada?Mexico City's fine restaurants like Pujol have got it right.They serve alta cocina featuring small producers from Baja California who garner cult followings among the Mexicans living in D.F.

[DanaB]

Thanks for your your report! I love Ensenada, and it's exciting to hear of the great things going on there wine-wise. Your report on Mexican wines was informative and eye opening! Thanks!

[Obessed]

I bought Mexican wine at Colorado Wine Company in Eagle Rock after I heard it featured on Wino Wednesday on INDIE a few months ago (I think in May - Cinco de Mayo).

[ccognac]

Make sure you check out the wines from Adobe Guadalupe, they are bold, spicy and fantastic. I think that Mexican wines and the Mexican wine market is like California was 10 yrs ago. We just returned from a trip and spent time w Master Somm Daniel Mendez who was stating that wine consumption in Mexico is up 100 % from last year....that can only mean good things for us.....if we can get them to export the wines to the US.

Try driving down to Ensenada and checking out the wineries, its also a good reason to go to Laja, and amazing restaurant in the Mexican wine country

[L.A.Hound]

Babita's, a restaurant in San Gabriel, has a pretty nice Mexican wine list. You could try calling them to see where you could find them in stores.

[vpm]

I was just at Babita's last night (was delicious), and had ordered a bottle of L.A. Cetto that we very much enjoyed. Anyway, Berrelleza was out talking up the patrons, and I asked him where he got the wine and whether there was anywhere in L.A. we could pick up some on our own--he insisted that he knew of no where but inside Mexico. Don't know about the other Mexican wines he stocks though, only asked about Cetto.

[Joe Blowe]

http://www.wine-searcher.com/find/Cet...

He's either fibbing or just doesn't know...

[sumbini]

There is a good site on Mexican (baja california) wines at http://bajawines.com
They don't offer wines for sale but the site has good info and pictures on baja wineries.

[DiveFan]

Some of the Latino oriented chain grocerys carry them. Sorry, my memory about which labels isn't razor sharp. I've found at least one Baja label at Northgate, none at Big Saver. You might check Gigante or Vallarta as well.

[Dommy]

Mexican Wineries still play it close to the vest and tend to focus on Mexico, mainly supplying resorts and fine restaurants there... The only distributor that I know of here is San Antonio Winery, HOWEVER, right now, they sell it strictly to restaurants and perfer to sell it by the case... Call the wine shop and ask for the number of their whole sale guy. If you sweet talk him, he will quote you a price and then have it for you at the pick up dock. That is how we got our L.A. Cetto...

And of course, you could also make a trip down to Baja as well! :D

--Dommy!

[carter]

And the LA Cetto is quite good, as I have tasted several varietals as sold at Senor Fred in Sherman Oaks back in its infancy.
Now, I think they have reduced the number of varieties, as the place sells mostly beer and mixed drinks, rather than wine.

[therealbigtasty]

Have you had the L.A. Cetto Nebbiolo? I'm going to be nice here, but...it tasted not so fun.

Like burnt prunes scraped against a butt filter...sorry.

What do they produce that's pleasant?

[Joe Blowe]

Do you have any names? Since you don't, here's what I'd do: Go to Google and type in mexican wine. Then click on the first link -- you'll see why.

Then, go to wine-searcher.com and type those names into the search field. Yes, I found a couple of vintages in the L.A. area...