Halina Gama, Rodrigo Ibarra Lozano y Eugenio Parrodi
By Alfredo Espinola
In the heart of Querétaro, where autumn days are tinged with gold and the air carries a hint of ripe grapes, wine once again becomes a reason to gather from October 17 to 19 at the Plaza Gran Cue in the municipality of Corregidora, which will be transformed into a stage to celebrate the fifth edition of the Queretaro Wine Festival, an event filled with the aromas, stories, and dreams that ferment among the vineyards of the highlands.
Under the shadow of the El Pueblito pyramid, one of the oldest and most emblematic symbols of the state, 35 vineyards belonging to the Querétaro Wine Cluster will share more than 300 labels with the public. There will be tastings, workshops, conferences, and exhibitions, but above all, the opportunity to savor what this land has learned to cultivate with patience and pride.
“Querétaro has established itself as the country's leading wine destination,” said Rodrigo Ibarra, director of Tourism Promotion.
During the press conference held at Punto México in Mexico City, representing the Secretary of Tourism, Adriana Vega Vázquez Mellado, she highlighted that the Art, Cheese, and Wine Route has become the state's flagship tourist product, attracting more than 1.2 million visitors each year and generating an economic spillover of more than 4 billion pesos.
The festival also comes at a symbolic moment, the end of the harvest season. “It is a showcase for Querétaro's wine riches,” explained Eugenio Parrodi, president of the Wine Cluster. “This is where the projects that have given our wine its soul come together, with activities that strengthen both the technical side and the visitor experience.”
The first day will be dedicated to specialized workshops for winemakers, a learning space that highlights the community spirit among those who work with grapes. Then, the glasses will be opened to the public amid talks, pairings, and music, turning the festival into a sensory journey.
Since its first edition in 2019, the festival has sought to offer more than just wine; it has wanted to bring the public closer to the origin, the faces, and the hands behind each label. At each stand, visitors can talk directly with winemakers, agronomists, and producers. This closeness is the soul that distinguishes the event.
Halina Gama, director of the Cluster, recalled that Querétaro is now the most important wine-producing area in Mexico, with 700 hectares planted, of which 80% are used for wine production. Every year, three and a half million bottles are produced here, and the state leads the production and export of sparkling wine made using traditional methods. Its bubbles travel to the United States, Asia, and Europe, each bottle carrying a sparkle of Querétaro sunshine.
On this occasion, restaurants such as Ruinas de Puerta de Lobo, Olivo Tinto, Flor de Alfalfa, Cocina de Campo, and Casa Cocheros will participate, along with the cheesemakers of Rancho Santa Marina, La Biquette, La Grande Chèvre, and Cava Bocanegra. The list is joined by 16 artisans from Corregidora and traditional workshops, such as Baltazar's masks and dreamcatchers, as well as artistic performances ranging from flamenco to mariachi.
“A sensory portrait of contemporary Querétaro,” said Halina.
Beyond the numbers, the festival pays tribute to a tradition that has taken root in the tables and memories of visitors. The Art, Cheese, and Wine Route, which runs through the municipalities of El Marqués, Santa Rosa Jáuregui, Colón, Ezequiel Montes, Bernal, and Tequisquiapan, is already a cultural experience in itself, showcasing landscapes, flavors, and crafts that tell the story of a region in full bloom.
Thus, between glasses and smiles, the Fifth Queretano Wine Festival is shaping up to be a great celebration of identity, talent, and community; an encounter where wine ceases to be just a drink and becomes a bridge between generations, arts, and dreams.