Tinto y Blanco: Viñedo San Miguel

By Randolph Rogers

If I told you the 2026 winery of the year in all of México is not located in Valle de Guadalupe in Baja, but six miles from La Comer in San Miguel de Allende, would you go?

Viñedo San Miguel has won over 160 wine competition medals in their scant fourteen years of existence, and their recent accolade from the México Association of Sommeliers, naming it México’s 2026 winery of the year, is the crowning achievement.

León-based Cuadra Company has built this edifice of winemaking excellence along the road to Celaya, where San Miguel de Allende meets Comonfort. Over a million bricks, thousands of French oak barrels, and dozens of stainless-steel fermentation tanks on polished concrete in their homage to the Bahia Wine Gods. Their award-winning restaurant, Trasiego, is an epicurean destination known for its chiles en nogada and its signature stuffed taco presented on a Día de Muertos statuette.

Their 60 hectares of planted vines grace the slopes facing the Picacho Mountains, producing over 15,000 cases of wine each year. The vineyard is broken into a dozen lots, with each vine in the classic high-cordon trellis system. The terroir is a blend of sandy loam that provides great drainage, vital in the uncommonly wet vintages of 2025 and 2026, which hamper red wine maturation as Brix did not exceed 22. Oh well – more wonderful Rosé options. The estate varietals include: Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Syrah, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Malbec. Three winery tours include tastings, and we chose the five-wine tasting menu. The barrel room has an ethereal quality, with color-changing lights behind the Hungarian, American, and French oak barrels stacked artistically in the cool cava. The forethought and architectural design of the complex are remarkable.

Their Rosé is a delightfully dry blend of Malbec, Cabernet Franc, and Cabernet Sauvignon. In California, Rosés are generally made from Grenache, so this blend was a pleasant departure. The Sauvignon Blanc was a bright and dry rendition of this popular varietal in this region. The 2019 Malbec is superb. This bold red wine has dark cherry, tobacco, and currant notes – at 540 mxn – a great value. The two Bordeaux blends were not as complex but very approachable.

My guests and I arrived one day after the last grape was harvested on September 4^th. Javier Valverde commented that “The 2027 harvest begins today.” Our hosts Javier Valverde, Annie Martínez, and vineyard manager Abraham Gonz´alez could not have been more professional. The entire team at Viñedo San Miguel takes great pride in showcasing their pampered vineyards and pristine facilities. Javier Valverde had been instrumental in promoting the wine region and tourism for Guanajuato State. I highly recommend eating at their restaurant on your visit. This spacious restaurant has a cozy feel despite its size. A covered patio enabled us to enjoy the delicious breeze on a warm afternoon. The service and food are first-rate at Comonfort prices. ¡Buen Provecho!

I wanted to try the Italian wines from their vineyards in Tuscany: Golpaja (405 mxn), sparkling wine; Aida (480 mxn), and Chianti Reserva (495 mxn). Next time. The wine quality at Viñedo San Miguel is exceptional and priced reasonably, and available at La Comer, City Market, and Cava Sautto.

One note of interest was that all the wines at Viñedo San Miguel are under fourteen percent alcohol by volume. I learned that the already steep taxation on wine jumps considerably above fourteen percent.

I have been away for five months tending to my own vineyard, and the expansion of vineyards and wineries in this region is growing exponentially. As a resident or a visitor, I implore you to explore the region; just miles from Centro, you’ll find vineyards, olive orchards, cattle ranches, farm stands with the cornucopia of produce grown here. There is a movement to create a single marketing alliance to brand this region not only as a great wine region but also for agri-tourism.

Wines of the Month: Viñedo San Miguel

Blancs: A nectarous blend of Chardonnay, Sauternes, and Sauvignon Blanc, giving it the gravitas to accompany any dish. 390 MXN

Sauvignon Blanc: Stainless steel tank-fermented white wine. A delightful companion to tapas or an afternoon soiree. 365 MXN

2019 Malbec: A robust wine that will win over yourred-wine-drinking friends. 540 MXN

2021 Syrah: This award-winning wine deserves all its props and is to be savored. Be careful, as it may overwhelm your entrees. Best with chocolate or romance. 499 MXN

Randolph Rogers is an author and wine grape grower in Paso Robles, California, and a bon vivant in San Miguel de Allende