Viñedos San Lucas: A Movable Feast Just Fifteen Minutes Away

By Randolph Rogers

From this semi-arid plain in the shadow of Las Picachos is the San Francisco and San Lucas development off Salida a Querétaro, just 15 minutes from Centro.  The trinity of this oasis is lavender, olive trees, and vineyards. It was our destination for a delightful spring afternoon. Specifically, we landed at the rustic brick production facilities, tasting room, gift shop, and restaurant at San Lucas.

It was my third time here, and it always delivers a movable feast for the eyes, nose, and mouth. If you have out-of-town guests whom you want to dazzle, this is the venue. We went for the tasting and lunch at the adjacent restaurant. The tasting I would recommend for wine novices, as it is a complete tutorial on the wine production process, from the destemming machine to the barrel room. Then down into the cavernous tasting room, where you learn the proper way to taste wine at a restaurant, and how to swirl and hold your glass.

Our gracious host was bilingual and injected humor into the serious proceedings when pairing cheese, nuts, olive oil, bread, and honey with wine. As a note, the tasting was expensive, so if you have wine knowledge, I’d recommend skipping the tour, going to the gift shop, buying a couple of bottles of wine, and relaxing anywhere on the beautiful grounds. The dynamic contrast of the brick buildings to the grand raised planters of lavender and the silvery-green leaves of the nearby olive grove is pleasing, perfect for imbibing well-crafted wines.

This wine complex demands a winemaker of stature. The owners brought in a young, experienced winemaker from Mendoza, Argentina. German Calvo was educated in enology and chemistry, and interned at Rombauer in Napa, famous for their Chardonnay (renowned “cougar juice”). German grew up under the tutelage of his father, a winemaker, and in the Mendoza culture. His passion, enthusiasm, and expertise were a welcome addition to the burgeoning Bajío wine region. German Calvo will definitely state that there are always issues in farming. 2025 was a disastrous year due to the heavy rainy season, resulting in a sixty percent loss of the harvest.

The soil profiles range from hard pack clay to sandy loam, with a calcareous mineral trough in the vineyards scattered throughout the region, with many small plots of mixed varietals as vanity landscaping, which the wine group maintains.

The owners request that each winery produce high-quality Bordeaux blends (Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, etc.), plus Spanish varietals (Tempranillo, Albariño) and even Burgundian varietals (Pinot Noir, Chardonnay). It takes the talent of a winemaker of German Calvo’s pedigree and skill to deliver great wines from fruit from sundry vineyards. All the wines in their portfolio have won awards. There is some confusion because of the seven wine labels, all similar in design, with white lettering in an oblong white circle against a black background. You will most easily find La Santisima Wines at local liquor stores like Cava Sautto. Most wines are sold on-premises due to the more than ten thousand annual visitors to their properties.    

It was a pleasure doing a vertical tasting of the Malbecs that Calvo has created by tapping the American Oak barrels with a wine thief (a suction tool) and the spigots of steel tanks. Malbec is a red varietal that, along with Tempranillo, appears to flourish in the Bajío.

The white wines, rosés, and sparkling wines are the most accessible of the region, especially when temperatures start to climb.

Wines Of The Month:

La Santísima Trinidad Espumoso Rosé Brut. This effervescent wine was a pure delight. Fruit forward, clean, low acidity, and a wee bit on the sweet side, but perfect as an aperitif or on a blanket on the green. Pair with your charcuterie board or fruit offerings. $499 mxn

Vino Espumoso La Santísima Trinidad Dulce. Another great sparkling wine, dry, clean, refreshing, and without a hint of color. A great substitute for white wine at dinner. $410 mxn

La Santísima Trinidad Malbec. Bold and delicious, fruit-forward, well-balanced acidity.

If you like Malbecs, you’ll rave about this wine, paired perfectly with meat, especially off the grill.

This is to be enjoyed now, and the perfect party favor. $639 mxn

Randolph Rogers is an author, a food writer, and the owner/grower of Woodpecker Ranch Winery in Paso Robles, California.