Mexican Wine Country

Coahuila · Parras de la Fuente

Valle de Parras

An oasis in the Chihuahuan Desert, 1,500 metres up, where spring water feeds old vines. Parras claims the first wine-growing region in the Americas, and one winery here dates itself to 1597.

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At a glance

Elevation
About 1,500 mOfficial site
Climate
Warm days, cool nights, about 12 °C swing between themWine reference
Harvest festival
Feria de la Uva y el Vino, 79th edition, running to 16 August 2026Journalism
Designation
Denominación de Origen statusWine reference

Wineries

One famous hacienda, and a handful of smaller names that are mostly listings so far.

Hacienda San LorenzoCasa MaderoParras’s anchor winery, in the Valle de Parras. It dates itself to 1597 (see the note on the overview page) and offers a tour, a guided tasting and a seasonal lunch at Hacienda San Lorenzo. Wine With Seth says it became Mexico’s first certified organic vineyard in 2012.Claims oldest in the AmericasLunch on siteWest ParrasAntigua Hacienda de PeroteA hacienda making wine and liquor since the mid-19th century, with cellar tours, a hotel and a restaurant in the same compound. Mexico News Daily adds that it makes sotol.Hotel on siteSotolParrasRivero González and Don LeoMexico News Daily names these as newer producers that widened Parras’s reputation, introduced new grapes and, reportedly, made Mexico’s first kosher wine.Newer producersSingle sourceParrasVinos ParvadaListed by México Desconocido as an alternative to Casa Madero. We found no further detail in sources we trust.Listing onlySingle sourceParrasViñedos Don RemigioListed as a vineyard option for touring and tasting. No further detail found.Listing onlySingle sourceParrasViñedos El PolvorínListed as another alternative to Casa Madero. No further detail found.Listing onlySingle source

Grapes

Red Bordeaux grapes and Tempranillo, grown on clay and limestone with spring water.

RedCabernet SauvignonPart of Casa Madero’s 3V blend and a main grape in the valley, according to Wine With Seth.RedTempranilloRounds out the 3V blend. The winery lists red and black fruit, rose and violet, with sweet, round tannins after 12 months in French and American oak.RedMerlotThe third grape of 3V and one of the Bordeaux-style reds Wine With Seth lists for Parras.RedShirazNamed by Wine With Seth among the main reds of the valley.Single sourceRedMalbecWine With Seth says Casa Madero also makes Malbec.Single sourceWhiteChardonnayWine With Seth says Casa Madero also makes Chardonnay. Few whites are named in the sources we found.Single source

Hotels

Lodging is thin. Casa Madero’s own experiences page lists none.

West ParrasAntigua Hacienda de PeroteHotel, restaurant and winery in one hacienda compound. The listing calls it a pioneer of lodging among the area’s wineries, from 2003.Winery on siteParrasHotel Hacienda Santa AnitaRecommended as a place to stay by México Desconocido. No further detail found.Listing onlySingle sourceParrasHotel Rincón del MonteroRecommended as a place to stay by México Desconocido. No further detail found.Listing onlySingle source

Restaurants

Mexico News Daily found fewer fine restaurants downtown than expected.

At Casa MaderoHacienda San LorenzoA seasonal menu by the executive chef, served as part of Casa Madero’s signature experience.Winery lunchSingle sourceWest ParrasAntigua Hacienda de PeroteA restaurant in the same compound as the winery and hotel.At a winerySingle sourceParrasRincón San MiguelViews of the Sombreretillo hill and church, with home-style tacos, ceviche, steaks and pasta.ViewsSingle sourceHistoric centreAndariego Asador MexicanoA restored old mansion with a garden and fountain, known for pizzas, tacos and steaks.GardenSingle sourceHistoric centreEl Mesón de Don EvaristoA traditional spot for tacos, enchiladas, steaks, soups and breakfast.TraditionalSingle source

Where sources disagree

When sources conflict we show each claim with its source instead of averaging them.

Casa Madero’s 1597 date

The winery says Philip II authorised vines in 1597 and calls itself the oldest in the Americas. Wikipedia names Lorenzo García and 19 August 1597. Mexico News Daily repeats 1597 without a source and its photo caption says only “one of the oldest in Latin America”. All trace back to the winery’s own history, and we found no independent archive.

How much rain Parras gets

Wikipedia, quoting national weather-service normals for 1991–2020, gives 322.5 mm a year. Wine With Seth says 80–100 mm and that vines need irrigation. The gap is too large to split, so we show both.