By Paola Velasco
The Guanajuato Wine Museum is located in the magical town of Dolores Hidalgo. It is housed in a 230 year-old building that was the Dolores Hidalgo Hospital at the beginning of the 20th century. The museum was inaugurated in 2016 by the then governor of the state, Miguel Márquez Márquez. From its inception, the objective was to rescue the legacy of the priest Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, who was one of the main promoters of the cultivation of grapes in the 18th century. He began cultivating the first vineyards in the region to promote the production of high quality wines. He taught the indigenous people how to plant grape vines, showed them how to cultivate them, and how to make wine. Good wine was produced in the region and boosted the economy tremendously in the years prior to the War of Independence.
In the museum you can learn about the history of wine, the process by which it is made, and the products now available in the «Valley of Independence.» There are five interactive rooms in which you can learn everything about wine—its history of wine, field work, and the seasonal cycles of the vine. When it comes to the winemaking process, you will find out about the different types of barrels, corks, bottles, and you will have the opportunity for virtual tastings led by the wine experts in the state. You can also get to know the wide range of labels produced by the state of Guanajuato at the Wine bar, and taste many of them.
On July 23, the fourth Harvest Festival will be held at the Guanajuato Wine Museum. Those attending the event will be able to taste different wines produced in the region. There will be also be live music and recreational activities.
