Thirty minutes away from downtown Bordeaux, you can find Château Fonchereau, a very unique vineyard in the most prestige wine regions in the world. The owner Alfredo Ruiz is originally from Sinaloa, Mexico, making him the only Hispanic wine maker in Europe.
While sitting in his historic Chateau from the XV century in the heart of Entre Deux Mers, a very excited Alfredo says: “Vineyards in Bordeaux are so rare that they can’t be found or reproduced anywhere in the agriculture world. Producing wines is more than just a formula, it holds a message of warmth and integration that Hispanics can easily understand”.
“I learned from my father to have passion for wine and after visiting this Chateau during a vacation week back in 2006, the owner offered me to sell the vineyard. Sometime after, I became the owner and moved with my family from Sinaloa to France. At first I was told that it would be difficult for the French people to accept a Mexican but the truth is that everyone has been extremely friendly, people here are warm like us”, says Alfredo.
Alfredo’s life and personality is very intense and thats why he had decided if he was going to surrender to this world, he would do it in the best wine-producing region. “Sometimes it’s hard to believe that my neighbors are the owners of the famous Chateaus of the wines my father enjoyed when I was a child. It is incredible! I have learned that producing wine requires patience and love, its like having a child every year and even after its born you have to continue to nurture it, especially in the city of Bordeaux where the production of wine is so wide. There is a historic part to respect here and I've learned the vineyard’s little by little but I continue to learn everyday”, states Alfredo.
Château Foncherau belongs to the appeal of Bordeaux and Bordeaux Superieur. Two hundred fifty million bottles are sold every year in many countries such as USA, Mexico, Japan, Spain, England and Belgium. Eighty percent of the production is red wine, which is considered their specialty. The perfect grape assembly goes as follows: 70% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon. The other 20% of production is dedicated to a delicate and fruitful pink wine, which I fell in love with. Also a fresh, dry white wine made of 100% Semillon Grape. The world known French Chef Alain Ducasse is one of his prominent clients even though the wines fluctuate between $15 and $30. Every year they are awarded with gold medals around the world. Alfredo’s ultimate goal is to become one of the leading wines of Bordeaux but never forgetting its roots and Latin traditions. Salud!!!
