This winery could actually be the result of the ”domino effect” as it came into being as a result of conversation during a domino game among good friends. Guillermo A. Rodriquez Macouzet and a few friends decided to purchase wines from good local winemakers to create some interesting and drinkable blends. Their effort led to the founding of Chateau Domino now known as Vina Domino or Vinisterra winery. As the experiment progressed, renowned Swiss oenologist Christoph E. Gartner, former Bodega Santo Tomas winemaker became business partners with Guillermo Rodriquez Macouzet. They purchased and leased land, planted vineyards, built a small winery and made their own wines.

April 26, 2002 marked the beginning of the partnership creating Vinisterra S.A. de C.V. along with the purchase of 8.4 acres of land in San Antonio de las Minas, 395 acres in Valle de Santo Tomas and 24 acres leased in Valle de San Vicente. Young wines surround the tasting room and winery in San Antonio that hold the key to their success and goal of providing the world with Mexican wines that are sophisticated, elegant, and deeply reflective of the varietal. Grapes planted so far are Viognier, Rousanne, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah, Tempranillo, Mourvedre and Grenache.

Selecting the right locations for their vineyards is an important factor in their wine growing strategy. In the right terroir (a French name for the vine’s environment, above and below the ground) grapevines are sensitive instruments that can gauge the vibe of their soil and climate and express that nature in their fruit. Skilled winemakers convert the grapes into a bottled essence of place-the expression of a certain season in a particular locale. Vinisterra has taken great care in selecting favorable vineyard sites in Baja.

Vinisterra winery has two label names, Macouzet and Vina Domino. Macouzet is a family name brought to Mexico in 1792 with French relatives who were colonists near the town of Veracruz. The Macouzet label represents a new trend in producing young red wines that are ready to drink after a year or two in the bottle. The primary focus of Macouzet is to create superior wines with less wood, more fruit, and reflecting the nature of the vineyard. They are concentrating on Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvedre grapes which are the main varieties in France’s Rhone Valley and which grow well in Baja California. Vina Domino is their second label featuring less complex blends of white and red grapes at affordable prices.

Macouzet 2001 Cabernet Sauvignon-Merlot blend is aged 30 percent in new French oak for 18 months with one year and six months bottle aging. Garnet color with aromas of ripe red berries with velvety balanced flavors. The end result is a soft, smooth wine with light hint of wood, ripe fruit, medium acidity, mid-soft tannins and good structure. This wine has been rated as superior and is a good value at $20. per bottle.

Macouzet 2002 Tempranillo is an outstanding wine aged 40 percent in new American oak with almost two years bottle aging. Dark ruby color with aromas of black cherry, vanilla and a hint of oak. Flavors of black stone fruit mix with good mid-mouth mild tannins, good acidity with a balanced finish. Rated 84 points in Copenhagen competition. A good quality wine with a reasonable price of $20. per bottle. This is an excellent wine!

Three delightful table wines are bottled under their second label, Vina Domino. Chenin Blanc is blended with Colombard creating a light, fruity white table wine retailing for only $7. per bottle and has been named a “Baja Best Value Wine.” Winemaker Christoph E. Gartner uses 100 percent Mission grapes to produce a wonderful, robust and full-bodied Vino Rosado and blends Tempranillo, Grenache and Mission for their vinto tinto. Both the Vino Rosado and Vinto Tinto are delightful table wines retailing for just $10. per bottle.

Current production is about 1700 cases per year with the goal of producing up to 5,000 cases when the facilities are fully completed. Five varieties of wine are offered and many informed wine lovers in the region are anticipating the soon-to-be-released 2002 Vinisterra Premium Blend. This blend of 60 percent Grenache and 40 perfect Tempranillo, aged 30 percent in new French oak and bottle aged for two years and it is fabulous!

Vinisterra will be hosting an event this year in celebration of the harvest. The concert, dinner, and wine-tasting will be held on August 11th, 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Music is provided by Sabor Moreno, a Dominican Republic band with northern Caribbean sounds and the dinner will be catered by Barra Azul which is one of Ensenada’s top culinary operations. This is one event you won’t want to miss! Cost is about $38 per person and includes a free wine glass. The Rodriguez Macouzet hospitality and fine wine is unsurpassed!

The winery is located on the west end of Guadalupe Valley in the village of San Antonio de las Minas at Km 94.5 Ensenada-Tecate Highway 3. If you are coming from Ensenada, turn to the right in the center of San Antonio de las Minas onto Calle Benito Juarez. Follow the only paved road in town thru the fifth stop sign and continue about 500 yards to the first left turn, go about 1/4 mile and turn right at the stop sign. The winery is ahead about 200 yards on the right side. Open Saturdays from 11:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m and Sundays 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Abelardo Rodriguez and his wife, Patricia, manage the winery and host the tasting room. Arrangements can be made for private tasting, large tour groups and special events. For information or for an appointment call 646-178-3350 email: vinisterra@yahoo.com