Mexican Wine and Food Show Goes Global - Baja Wine Country News by Steve Dryden
International wine and food lovers in sixteen countries are learning about Mexican wine and food via, The Grapevine. This informative and educational Cable TV show is a positive promotion of Baja California courtesy of Varivision Cable TV Channel 8 (El Ocho) in Ensenada. Thanks to a dedicated network of global wine aficionados who are sharing the 45 minute DVD productions with friends and family around the world, Mexico is being presented in a good image to enquiring wine and food consumers. This “vine roots” effort is exposing our region to international viewers wanting to learn about Mexico’s emerging wine culture and gourmet cuisine venues in and around Ensenada and into the vineyards of Baja California.
Varivision is producing The Grapevine for local content on their Cable TV network, but is in the process of reaching out globally via a link to other cable companies in Mexico, the US and Europe. In addition, they are in the process of developing a web site with a focus on the Baja California wine country and gourmet culinary establishments in the region. The new site (now under construction) at: www.bajawineandcuisine.com will be the definitive wine and gourmet cuisine site for Mexico as well as featuring video streams and dvd’s of wineries and restaurants in our region. The bilingual format provides interesting and educational information in both Spanish and English. Currently the show is most popular on a global level in Spain where they share a keen interest in Mexican wine and cuisine.
So far, the various shows feature Roganto winery with cuisine from El Rey Sol restaurant, The Culinary Arts School at UABC with Vinisterra winery, L.A. Cetto winery with Hogaza Bakery, Cafe Orleans with wine from Bibayoff winery. In addition, the show has gone international with filming at the San Diego Bay Wine and Food Festival and at the Paso Robles Grand Tasting in San Diego. This summer the show goes to Las Vegas to film an “exclusive” food and wine event with a nationally acclaimed chef and a popular winery. Production, filming and keen networking has exposed Mexican wines to international wine and food lovers to our unique wine and cuisine culture. Future shows will concentrate on regional wineries and popular culinary establishments in Mexico and southern California.
The web site is a joint venture between Varivision Cable TV and myself. I’m providing direction and hosting with the filming at the wineries and restaurants in the area, as well as providing content for the web site. Kathleen Scott is the computer artist designing the new web site. The show itself wouldn’t be possible without our professional team including: cameramen Adrian Enrique Ruiz Romero, Julio Alfonzo Aguilar Alcantar, and Julio Cesar Gutierrez Ruiz, production coordinator Tracy Magally Rojas de Hoyos, with subtitles by Richard Guererro Rojas de Hoyos and assistance from Genevieve. The Spanish speaking host of the show is winemaker Veronica Santiago. During the first several shows we’ve been able to maintain the “mission of our show” in that the regional winemakers and chefs are the “real stars” of The Grapevine, and we’ll continue with that guideline.
The generous support of Varivision owners and shareholders is allowing for the production and filming of Mexico’s premier wine country and local culinary establishments. In our effort to promote Mexico’s wine and food culture, we’ve sent our dvd’s along with Baja California wine samples to Wine Spectator magazine asking to be included in their wine buying guide. In addition, we’ve written an article about Mexico’s wine industry in the April 2010 issue (Viewpoint) of www.winesandvines.com.
Our effort is dedicated to formulating a creative solution, and taking a positive approach “to awakening the world to the good life that Mexico has to offer.” We believe that the time is quickly approaching (due to global economics and bankrupt States) when living in this region will be a real, viable option for those seeking a vacation or retirement haven that is affordable, diverse and relaxing. The “big news” is that this region is blessed with an abundance of good wine and gourmet food, Mediterranean-like weather, affordable oceanside living, with diverse services at reasonable rates that can allow the average person to live a high-class lifestyle in our neighbor. In the meantime, we’ll spread the word in a visual format so wise folks can make their own decision to visit or retire in Baja California. We’re not depending on the regular corporate owned media outlets to deliver our message, we’re creating our global platform using the revolutionary medium of the internet and “vine roots” networking. Let’s all toast to the new world of personal expression, and liberation from controlled media.
Steve Dryden is a wine, food and travel writer living in Mexico’s premier wine country where he guides individual and small group wine tours. He can be reached at: sbdryden@hotmail.com. Visit his new international wine and food blog at: www.winefoodguide.com