About the Book
373 pages. Stunning photography. Over 80 cocktail recipes. A definitive guide to Mexico's finest spirits, wines, and agave culture.
373 pages. Stunning photography. Over 80 cocktail recipes. A definitive guide to Mexico's finest spirits, wines, and agave culture.
A visually driven journey through the wines, spirits, landscapes, and culinary traditions of Mexico, De la vid al agave explores how agave and grape have become expressions of place, history, identity, and craft. Drawing on field experience, producer knowledge, and deep hospitality expertise, James Grant and Arturo Rojas García-Luna take readers from vineyards and distilleries to regional kitchens and cultural traditions.
The book connects terroir, production methods, tasting insight, and food pairing in a format designed for readers who value both beauty and substance. More than a drinks book, it is a portrait of Mexican heritage through the lens of wine, mezcal, tequila, and the people who sustain them.
Mezcal is the mother spirit — distilled from the hearts of agave plants across Mexico's diverse landscapes, from the mountains of Oaxaca to the valleys of Jalisco and beyond. De la vid al agave dedicates an entire section to the artisanal world of mezcal: the palenqueros who tend wood-fired pit ovens, the clay pots and copper alembics that shape each batch, and the extraordinary range of flavors born from over 30 agave varieties.
From smoky ensambles to floral tobalá expressions, this book maps the full spectrum of mezcal production, with producer profiles, terroir analysis, tasting notes, and cocktail recipes crafted by co-author Arturo Rojas García-Luna — one of Mexico's foremost mixologists.
Born from the blue Weber agave in the volcanic highlands of Jalisco, tequila is Mexico's most recognized spirit — and one of its most misunderstood. This book goes far beyond the basics: explore the distinction between blanco, reposado, añejo, and extra-añejo expressions; understand how altitude, soil, and harvest timing shape the agave; and discover the master distillers who are pushing tequila into new creative territory.
Featured towns include Tequila, El Arenal, Teuchitlán, and Amatitán — each with its own identity, heritage, and place in the story of this iconic spirit. Cocktail recipes highlight both classic and contemporary applications, from the Paloma to signature creations by the authors.
Long overshadowed by its spirit counterparts, Mexican wine is experiencing a remarkable renaissance. The Valle de Guadalupe in Baja California — often called "Mexico's Napa Valley" — produces world-class wines that surprise even seasoned sommeliers. De la vid al agave shines a spotlight on this often-overlooked category, exploring the wineries, varietals, and winemaking philosophies that are putting Mexican wine on the global map.
From the old-vine mission grapes of Santo Tomás to the experimental blends of Valle de Guadalupe, the book includes winery profiles, food pairing recommendations, and an inspiring collection of wine-based cocktails crafted with a distinctly Mexican sensibility.
Wineries are among the most enthusiastic early adopters of this book — an essential gift for wine tourism visitors and a natural complement to any tasting room's retail selection.
Santo Tomás — one of Baja California's most historic wineries
Every page is a visual experience. Hundreds of full-color, large-format photographs capture the raw beauty of Mexico's agave landscapes, the intimacy of family distilleries, the precision of the cocktail craft, and the warmth of the communities who keep these traditions alive. This is not just a reference book — it is a work of art.
De la vid al agave doubles as a practical travel guide for anyone exploring Mexico's spirit and wine regions. A dedicated tourism section covers the most rewarding routes and destinations:
Each destination is paired with producer recommendations, tasting notes, and practical visit information — making this book an essential companion for the experiential traveler.
Limited edition. Large format hardcover. Available for individual purchase and wholesale to bookstores, wineries, tasting rooms, and gastronomy retailers.
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