The Soul of the Vine: Exploring Mexico’s Deeply Rooted Wine Culture and Toasting Traditions

When most people think of Mexican drinks, they conjure images of golden tequila poured from hand-blown glass bottles, or a bottle of cerveza passed around at a family barbecue. And rightfully so. Tequila is a sacred spirit, born from the heart of the agave and the soul of Jalisco. Beer has woven itself into every casual celebration and weekend ritual. But there’s another story less told, but no less vibrant that runs through the valleys of Mexico: the story of wine.

Mexico’s wine story is not new. It is ancient. Beneath the surface of sun-soaked valleys and rugged mountains lies a history entwined with the soul of its people: a narrative of resilience, reinvention, and reverence.

The Oldest New World Wine

When many think of the New World wine regions, places like California, Chile, or Argentina may come to mind. Yet, Mexico holds the honor of being home to the oldest winemaking tradition in the Americas. The first grapevines arrived with Spanish missionaries in the early 16th century. Hernán Cortés, after the conquest of the Aztec Empire, ordered that every Spanish settler plant grapevines. The fertile lands, especially in the states of Coahuila and Baja California, embraced the vines, and by the late 1500s, winemaking flourished.

But this early promise was nearly extinguished. In 1699, fearing competition, the Spanish Crown banned commercial winemaking in Mexico, allowing only sacramental production by the Church. For centuries, Mexico’s wine culture was quieted, surviving only in hidden pockets and monastery cellars.

A Revival Rooted in Passion

It wasn’t until the late 20th century that Mexico’s wine industry reawakened with vigor. Visionary winemakers in Baja California’s Valle de Guadalupe, Coahuila’s Parras Valley, and beyond began to experiment, blending European varietals with Mexican terroir. Today, Mexico boasts over 400 wineries, producing wines that win international acclaim.

The climate can be harsh: arid days, cool nights, scarce water, yet these very conditions create grapes of remarkable character. The wines are as bold and resilient as the people who craft them, each bottle a reflection of Mexico’s dual heritage: Old World knowledge and New World confidence.

The Ritual of the Toast: “¡Salud!”

In Mexico, wine is not simply consumed; it is shared. The toasting tradition is sacred, carrying layers of meaning that go far beyond the clink of glasses.

The most common toast is simple yet profound: “¡Salud!” (To health). But the act of toasting is an expression of presence. When families gather around a table, when friends reunite after long separations, when couples celebrate love, the raised glass becomes a silent promise: I see you. I honor this moment we share.

In some regions, especially among older generations, you may hear more elaborate toasts:

• “¡Por la vida, el amor, y la buena compañía!” (To life, love, and good company.)
• “Que nunca nos falte el vino, el amor, ni los amigos.” (May we never lack wine, love, or friends.)

In Mexican culture, eye contact during a toast is a sign of sincerity and respect. Some even believe that failing to lock eyes invites bad luck. The act is intimate, binding, and imbued with gratitude.

Wine as Memory Keeper

Every vintage carries the memory of its season: the heat, the rains, the hands that harvested the fruit. In Mexico, wine also carries the weight of generational stories: of the pioneers who planted forbidden vines, of families who refused to let the tradition die, and of modern trailblazers who dared to dream.

To drink Mexican wine is to sip from a living history. It is to honor centuries of struggle and celebration, oppression and liberation, silence and song.

The Future: A Blossoming Legacy

Today, Mexico’s wine regions are not just producing world-class bottles; they are becoming destinations of pilgrimage for wine lovers. The Valle de Guadalupe has earned comparisons to Napa and Provence, yet it remains uniquely Mexican: offering wines paired with Baja-Med cuisine, sunsets over desert hills, and a hospitality rooted in deep cultural pride.

As the world begins to recognize the artistry of Mexican winemaking, the toasts continue:

“¡Salud! ¡Por nuestros ancestros, por el presente, y por todo lo que está por venir.” (Health! To our ancestors, to the present, and to all that is yet to come.)

We are not here to replace tequila or beer. They are sacred to our culture. We are here to stand alongside them. Because a culture as rich and complex as Mexico’s deserves more than one bottle on the table.

So the next time you open a bottle of Stella Z, or pour a glass of Nova Stella under the stars, remember: you are part of a much bigger story. One of legacy, of migration, of celebration and of quiet pride that wine has always had a place at the Mexican table.

¡Salud!