Humans domesticated wheat first. Some 4,000 years later it seems, they started cultivating grapes. Agriculture, with its ability to collect surplus resources, led to the first cities and states. But it was viticulture, the growing of grapes, that gave birth to culture. The Greek historian Thucydides, at the end of the 5th century BCE, gave us his opinion: “The people of the Mediterranean began to emerge from barbarism when they learned to cultivate the olive and the vine.” Bread keeps you fed, but wine is divine.

Indeed, the gods it seems were much concerned with wine. Dionysus is the Greek god of the grape-harvest, wine-making and wine, but also of fertility, ritual madness, religious ecstasy and theater. In Judeo-Christian rituals wine is still used as a sacrament.

               
Most cultures had their god or goddess associated with the processes of fermentation and distillation. Here in Mexico Mayahuel is the female deity associated with the maguey plant. Along with their appreciation for the many other uses of that plant, ancient cultures, especially the Aztecs, gave thanks to her for the intoxicating pulque derived from it. Today we might also thank her for tequila and mezcal.

Right from the start people realized the ability of wine to inspire and transcend. Bread is the necessity of this world. In US slang we even refer to money as “bread.” Wine, although we may have it alongside, before or separate from the meal, is really dessert, something deliciously additional to our need for physical sustenance. It is the flourish that transforms craft into fine art; the luxury that transforms life into the good life.

Of course, there is also craft to making wine. Some vinters make it a fine art. [Here a fair bit of content about the vineyard at Los Senderos.]

Los Senderos is in the vanguard of creating a sustainable, more holistic good life. To do this we weave together many strands of culture, new and old. We promote the traditions of community: fostering sustainable economic development, caring for disadvantaged youth, a “village” ambiance in our real estate development. Including with these: traditional healing, the ancient art of wine-making, horsemanship and more. Alongside these time-tested traditions, we incorporate modern philosophies of sustainable living, cultural developments in art, healing, leadership, personal relations, etcetera, etcetera. We blend it all into what we are sure you will agree is an inspiring vintage. Come by and share a glass or two.