L.A. Cetto Zinfandel

Mexico is home to the oldest wine industry in the Americas. The industry dates from 1521, one year after the Spanish Conquistadores colonised Mexico. Wine was part of daily Spanish life, it was also needed by Church and the Missions for the Mass. To satisfy this demand and to make the country self-sufficient, Cortés decreed a law that all the Spanish settlers had to plant vines on the lands they were granted. Just 10% of Mexico is suitable for viticulture; the great majority produce table grapes, raisins and brandy. The main quality vineyards are in Baja California, just south of San Diego, on a long finger of land stretching into the cooling waters of the Pacific Ocean. It was here that a young Italian immigrant from Piedmonte, Don Angelo Cetto came to in 1926 and planted vines in the Guadalupe Valley. L.A.Cetto is a family business with the third generation continuing on the tradition.