Viña de Liceaga

This was a real treat. It was the first winery that caught our eye on our Wine tour. We Came in through the gates, circled at the top entrance, and it looked closed for remodeling. We were about to take off when this gentleman came out to greet us.
They are having their grand opening the following month, but Federico Esquerza welcomed us in for a tour. We wanted some wine, but he was only taking care of the place for his sister while she was out on business.
The place was brand spanking new. We could smell the fresh cement and paint. Federico said they borrowed a lot of the architectural ideas and design from their trips to Europe.
We left after chatting it up with the Federico. he gave us a few pamphlets and off we were. Ruby lost the pamphlets so on our way back from the other wineries we stopped by again.
«My nephew is here, so if you guys want to wine taste you’re welcomed to.» Fuck yeah!
The guy brought out a basket of bread, local cheese and some delicious local olive oil. He didn’t even have to play host or let us wine taste. I, personally, was wrong about the young kid. I thought he was going to be a snob, but he was quite humble and courteous.
This winery is the 7^th to open from the 22 currently operating. The owner was a force behind opening, advertising and pushing a culture that had been around for a long time since the Russian immigrants and Spanish and Mexican Monks, but had never been polished down to the wineries and vineyards we know today.
Unfortunately, Don Liceaga, passed away from brain cancer 5 months before this visit and never got to see how beautiful his winery turned out.
The Chardonnays were great, buttery and smooth with a perfect balance of acidity, flavor and oak.
We walked away with two bottles of Merlot. One aged in American oak and the other in French. I preferred the American oak. It’s all about preference.
Cecilia Liceaga now runs the winery with the help of her son and brother.