Cava Sautto Wine Fest: Discovering Reds

When Cava Sautto (Hernandez Macias 59) throws a wine fest, they bring in the best brands. 

Reserve wines were in abundance as well as high end liquors like Hennessy, Dewar's, Bacardi, Johnny Walker, Herradura, Chevas Regal, Bruxo, Grey Goose and other leading labels.

I happen to think this is one of San Miguel de Allende’s best festivals and the deal of the year. For 300 pesos, you sample any of the wines or liquors featured at the event. At the end of the night, take your ticket stub into Cava Sautto and you get a $200 peso credit against any bottle in the store. 

After exchanging my ticket, this $250 peso bottle of Casa Madero Merlot was just $50 pesos.

That also means you drink and dance all afternoon and evening for 100 pesos. 

Highly visible? A lot of two fisted drinkers.

There were more Canadians and Americans in attendance this year and a large number of Mexico City's see-and-be-seen crowd. The turnout was triple of what it was last year.

I'm not a wine expert but I know what I like and I'm spirited when I run across something new.

For years, I've attempted to become a red wine drinker having tried many varieties from Bordeaux, Burgundy, and the Rhône in France; Piedmont and Tuscany in Italy; and California's Napa Valley and Sonoma Valley. I've never been successful at finding a bottle of red that I like until now. In fact, I was captivated by all of the Casa Madero reds.

My favorite? Casa Grande Cabernet Sauvignon, a surprise because I've always considered Cabernet to be too full-bodied and heavy for my taste. 

Casa Madero, by the way, is the first official wine estate in Mexico, founded in 1597 in Coahuila in Valle de Parras. I’ve also marked my calendar to go to the Parras Valley in the fall for the annual grape harvest called la vendimia.

Another red that I loved? Le Chetto's Don Luis.

Liquors? I've always disliked the small and taste of gin so another great reveal was Gracias a Dios Ginebra de Agave, made from Mezcal, that was so incredibly smooth we savored the taste between the oohs and aahs of "I can't believe this is gin." This preview special will be available for sale in the next few months.

While you’re in Hotel Sautto, don’t forget to try the magnificent food in the hotel’s Italian restaurant, Bacco. Everything is fresh and created from the best ingredients. I always order the Amatriciana, made with fresh tomatoes and smoked pancetta for just 100 pesos. It’s big enough to split or have for a second meal.

Cava Sautto also does a highly celebrated rum festival in November. You can watch the video from both events running on the feed inside Cava Sautto.

Mark your calendar for next year. You'll discover a lot of new selections for celebrating life’s special moments...

like another perfect day in San Miguel.

Salud and Buen Apetito!