San Luis del Río is a mezcal-making community in Oaxaca's Central Valleys, about 95 km from Oaxaca City. It sits in a narrow, hot valley with steep hillsides planted with Espadín and wild agaves such as Tobalá, Madrecuixe and Tepeztate. ZUNTE, ZUNTE Gold and ZUNTE Swarovski® come from here.
Where is San Luis del Río?
In Oaxaca's Central Valleys region, about 95 km from Oaxaca City. The village lies beside a river in a narrow valley, surrounded by hills where agave grows on steep slopes among mango trees.
Why is it mezcal country?
Mezcal is so rooted here that the town's coat of arms is an agave opened like a fan. Families have made mezcal for generations by hand: stone oven, tahona milling, natural fermentation and still distillation.
What does the place bring to the taste?
What wine calls terroir applies to mezcal too: soil, climate, altitude, water, wild yeasts and the maestro mezcalero's hand. In a hot valley with hillsides, agave ripens slowly and concentrates sugars. ZUNTE's tasting notes describe the result:
| Product | Agave | Tasting notes |
|---|---|---|
| ZUNTE | 8-year Espadín | Herbal and citrus with sweet tones; noble, fruity taste with a hint of smoke |
| ZUNTE Gold | Wild Tepeztate (15 years) and high-altitude Espadín (8 years) | Very fragrant, fresh citrus, flowers and wild plants |
| ZUNTE Swarovski | Wild Tepeztate (18 years) and high-altitude Espadín (8 years) | Fragrant, citrusy, floral and wild herbal |
Which agaves grow there?
The most planted is Espadín (Agave angustifolia). The hills also hold wild agaves such as Tobalá, Madrecuixe and Tepeztate, which take many more years to mature.
How this applies to ZUNTE
ZUNTE is born in San Luis del Río and links the village's tradition with the modern world. It is made by master distiller (maestro mezcalero) Juventino Cruz: espadín agave harvested at about 8 years, roasted for 4 days in a conical stone oven, milled with a tahona, fermented for 12 to 15 days in wooden vats and double-distilled in copper over 35 hours. Every bottle carries its motto: “Even if you have everything on earth, never stop looking at the sky.”
FAQ
Is San Luis del Río inside the Mezcal Denomination of Origin?
Yes. All of Oaxaca is inside it.
Can you visit?
It is a rural community; go with a guide or an appointment at a palenque.
Do all San Luis del Río mezcals taste the same?
No. Each family, agave and palenque gives a different profile.
Sources
- El Heraldo de México (2021). Así es San Luis del Río, la zona mezcalera por excelencia de Oaxaca.
- NOM-070-SCFI-2016, Alcoholic beverages – Mezcal. DOF.
- ZUNTE Mezcal. Product sheets, zuntemezcal.com.
