Mezcal, Culinary & Culture Tour
Warning: this is a very non-touristy experience!
This Mezcal tour, as with our wine tours, is nothing you can find on google, TripAdvisor, or from any travel agency. Our tours are based on personal relationships we have built since 2003 at our restaurant. We use and support small independent family-run producers that extend their hospitality and gratitude to us and we take you along for the experience.
We will visit personal backyard mezcal producers. Many of these families have been Mezcaleros for six generations. We have access to just over 100 family-run independent mezcaleros.
Enjoy lunch on the palenques (distillery) made by the mezcal families.
Visit the homes of the artisans of Atzompa, where they’re actually making the crafts. Meet the people making crafts. And then hop down to the market filled with all the Mexican folk art sculptures of fantastical creatures (alebrijes).
If this sounds good to you, stay tuned we have more info coming out soon on this adventure.
Get ready for an unforgettable adventure in Oaxaca! On Saturday, November 25th, you’ll arrive in the city and check into Hotel Casa Vertiz, a charming hotel located in the heart of Oaxaca’s historic center. With an unbeatable location just steps away from the main tourist zone, you’ll be close to everything – delicious restaurants, authentic mezcalerias, vibrant galleries, fascinating museums, bustling mercados, unique handicrafts, convenient banks, and essential convenience stores.
On Sunday, November 26th we head to the remote village of San Cristobal Lachirioag, home to Mezcal Tosba. An hour into your drive, you’ll stop at the Tlacolula Market for an early lunch and shopping before continuing on to Mezcal Tosba. This is the most famous market in Oaxaca.
Tosba was founded by two cousins from San Cristobal Lachirioag, was inspired by the entrepreneurial spirit they encountered while living in Silicon Valley. They wanted to rescue the disappearing mezcal production and bring economic opportunity to their home region. Mezcal Tosba is crafted using traditional and sustainable agricultural methods passed down by generations of farmers and mezcaleros. You’ll take a tour and taste the mezcal before enjoying an early dinner.
The adventure doesn’t end there, as you’ll spend the night in the mountains at a hotel. Experience the unique microclimate and terroir of this Zapotec village and discover the rich culture and flavors of Oaxaca.
Get ready for an action-packed Monday in Oaxaca! After a delicious breakfast, we’ll embark on a journey to the mountain top village of San Lorenzo and the famous “frozen” waterfalls of Hierve el Agua. Along the way, you’ll pass countless roadside mezcal palenques, where you can observe the entire mezcal-making process from the street.
Once we reach San Lorenzo, we’ll make a stop at Mezcalero Isaac Garcia’s small production mezcalery. Here, you’ll have the opportunity to see the entire process of making mezcal, including Isaac’s medicinal mezcals infused with local herbs and roots.
Before we leave San Lorenzo, we’ll indulge in a delicious lunch at the famous Restaurante Doña Chica, known for their region’s best mole.
Next up is the ancient ruins of Mitla, one of Mexico’s most fascinating and enigmatic sacred places. Occupied as early as 900 BC, Mitla’s visible structural remains date from between 200 and 900 AD when the Zapotecs were present, from 1000 AD when the Mixtecs took control of the site, and from 1200 AD. Our next stop is the small village of Matatlan, known as the world capital of mezcal. Here, you’ll have the chance to see the entire process of how mezcal is made, from harvesting the agave plant to distillation. You’ll be able to sample a wide variety of mezcals, including reposado, añejo, espadín, and tobalá.
We’ll meet our friend Gonzalo at Mezcal Macurichos, a family-run mezcalery dedicated to protecting the cultural tradition and agricultural heritage of agave. Gonzalo and his brothers cultivate their own diverse fields of agave, planting from seed and reforesting the diminishing wild agave populations.
After a full day of exploring, we’ll head back to Hotel Casa Vertiz where we’ll be staying for the rest of our adventure. Dinner tonight is on your own, as all of the best restaurants are just a couple of blocks away from our hotel. Join us for an unforgettable Monday in Oaxaca!
Get ready for an action-packed Monday in Oaxaca! After a delicious breakfast, we’ll embark on a journey to the mountain top village of San Lorenzo and the famous “frozen” waterfalls of Hierve el Agua. Along the way, you’ll pass countless roadside mezcal palenques, where you can observe the entire mezcal-making process from the street.
Once we reach San Lorenzo, we’ll make a stop at Mezcalero Isaac Garcia’s small production mezcalery. Here, you’ll have the opportunity to see the entire process of making mezcal, including Isaac’s medicinal mezcals infused with local herbs and roots.
Before we leave San Lorenzo, we’ll indulge in a delicious lunch at the famous Restaurante Doña Chica, known for their region’s best mole.
Next up is the ancient ruins of Mitla, one of Mexico’s most fascinating and enigmatic sacred places. Occupied as early as 900 BC, Mitla’s visible structural remains date from between 200 and 900 AD when the Zapotecs were present, from 1000 AD when the Mixtecs took control of the site, and from 1200 AD. Our next stop is the small village of Matatlan, known as the world capital of mezcal. Here, you’ll have the chance to see the entire process of how mezcal is made, from harvesting the agave plant to distillation. You’ll be able to sample a wide variety of mezcals, including reposado, añejo, espadín, and tobalá.
We’ll meet our friend Gonzalo at Mezcal Macurichos, a family-run mezcalery dedicated to protecting the cultural tradition and agricultural heritage of agave. Gonzalo and his brothers cultivate their own diverse fields of agave, planting from seed and reforesting the diminishing wild agave populations.
After a full day of exploring, we’ll head back to Hotel Casa Vertiz where we’ll be staying for the rest of our adventure. Dinner tonight is on your own, as all of the best restaurants are just a couple of blocks away from our hotel. Join us for an unforgettable Monday in Oaxaca!
Begin your day in Oaxaca with breakfast at the hotel or at one of the nearby cafes, bakeries or food carts. There are some amazing breakfast tamales and burritos on the corner!
Miahuatlán de Porfirio Díaz is a hidden gem nestled in the heart of Oaxaca, Mexico. This charming town and municipality is located in the south-eastern region of the country, and is known for its rich history, vibrant culture, and beautiful natural landscapes.
The town’s name, Miahuatlán, is derived from the Nahuatl language and means “Place of the Corn Tassel.” During the Aztec period, the town was known as Miahuapan Miahuatlán, “Canal of the Corn Tassel”.
Today we will be visiting three amazing palenques, meeting master distillers Victor Ramos, Gregorio Hernandez, and Felipe Cortez. Palenques are small distilleries located in the heart of Mexico, where the production of mezcal takes place. The master distillers we will meet are some of the most respected in the mezcal industry, and they will take us through the different stages of mezcal production. We will also enjoy authentic an authentic lunch during our tasting and tour.
We will start our journey by visiting Victor Ramos’ palenque. Victor’s mezcal is widely renowned for its complexity and flavor, and he has been producing mezcal for over 25 years. We’ll learn about the different agaves used in mezcal production, and the process of harvesting, roasting, milling, and fermenting the agaves to create the perfect product. We’ll also have the chance to sample some of Victor’s products and learn about his history and experience in the mezcal industry.
Next, we’ll visit Gregorio Hernandez’s palenque. Here we will learn about the traditional methods of distilling mezcal, and the importance of using copper stills to create the perfect product. This visit will also include a tasting of Gregorio’s products, as well as a chance to hear his stories and his experiences in the mezcal industry.
Finally, we’ll move on to Felipe Cortez’s palenque. Here, we will learn about the importance of wood-fired ovens in mezcal production, and the traditional methods of production that have been used for centuries. We’ll have the chance to sample Felipe’s products and learn about his passion for mezcal, his history and his experiences in the industry.
Get ready for an unforgettable evening in the stunning city of Oaxaco Centro! After a day of exploring, take a leisurely stroll through the historic streets and take in the beauty of the city.
But the real highlight of the night is yet to come – we’re headed to the Gastromic Center for a culinary adventure like no other. Here, you’ll have the opportunity to indulge in a dine-around experience, where you can sample the best dishes from over 20 of the city’s top restaurants.
From traditional Oaxacan cuisine to modern fusion dishes, this is your chance to savor the flavors of Oaxaca and discover new culinary delights. With so many delicious options to choose from, this is a night you won’t soon forget. So come with an empty stomach, and be prepared to indulge in an epicurean feast in Oaxaca Centro.
VIP Winery Vacations / Aroma Thyme Bistro LLC – 165 Canal St, Ellenville, NY – Contact No. (845) 800-0449 – Email: info@vipwineryvacations.com
Copyright © 2021 VIP Winery Vacations LLC and Aroma Thyme Bistro LLC
