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Chinaco Tequila From Tamaulipas, Mexico

Terroir-Driven Tequila From Tamaulipas That Revolutionized Premium Tequila In The United States.

Chinacotequila.com

Terroir-Driven Tequila From Tamaulipas That Revolutionized Premium Tequila In The United States.

Chinacotequila.com

THE CHINACO WARRIOR SPIRIT

Chinacos were wealthy landowners during the 18th and 19th centuries who, out of necessity, became legendary fighters. The Chinaco warriors tirelessly defended Mexico during both the War of Reform and the French Intervention in the mid-1800s. Their leader was General Manuel González, and the history of Tequilera La Gonzaleña, producer of Chinaco Tequila, begins in 1856 when General González acquired land in the Mexican state of Tamaulipas. Almost a century later, in 1966, a hurricane devastated the plantations of Tamaulipas, leading residents to plant alternative and more lucrative crops. Blue agave was an ideal option, as it was in growing demand and well-suited to the climate and soil conditions of the region. Guillermo González, the great-grandson of General Manuel González, was a major figure in the Agriculture Ministry at the time. He agreed to sell the region’s blue agave plants to a major tequila producer in Jalisco, the only Mexican state that could legally produce tequila at the time. When the agave plants matured eight years later, the tequila producer refused to pay Guillermo González the agreed-upon price. Left with no buyers for the agave, and refusing to sell them for less than promised, González became a warrior in his own right. He battled against the larger distillers and successfully lobbied the Mexican government for an amendment that would allow for tequila production outside of Jalisco. After four years of petitioning, Tamaulipas received Denomination of Origin status and this gave rise to Tequilera La Gonzaleña in 1977, the first tequila distillery in Tamaulipas and home of Chinaco Tequila.

A TAMAULIPAS EXPRESSION OF TEQUILA 

Chinaco uses agave grown in Tamaulipas which is richer in flavor and intensity. This is due to the soil, which is close to the ocean and high in mineral concentration. High elevation farming also contributes to the complexity. Farming at elevations reaching 5,000 feet allows for greater phenolic ripeness, imparting a spiciness and herbal quality while maintaining acidity. Chinaco farms some of its own agave, but primarily sources it from local farmers with whom the distillery has longstanding relationships. Sourcing agave from Tamaulipas is not without its challenges. Weather, particularly hurricanes, can significantly hurt local agave production, and political instability in the region adds further complications.

THE FIRST PREMIUM TEQUILA IN THE U.S.

In 1983, Chinaco made another pioneering effort when it became the first premium tequila in the United States. The status quo for tequila at the time was to use less agave and add sugar, and the emergence of Chinaco paved the way for the modern premium tequila revolution to take place, with David Wondrich naming it the “#1 Most Influential Spirits Brand of the Last 25 Years” in Wine & Spirits Magazine.

50th Anniversary

Chinaco is focusing on three strategic priorities to highlight its family heritage and unique taste profile:

1-Connecting with our origin: We have reconfigured our distillery and equipment as it was in 1972 and also launching a new bottle that resembles our classic teardrop bottle.

2-Connecting with our land: We have focused our agave sources in Tamaulipas, we are leveraging our family plantation at the El Rosillo Ranch along with local producers in southern Tamaulipas.

3-Connecting with the market: Chinaco was the first premium bottled tequila to be imported to the US so we want to continue to talk about that history that paved the way for many other brands.

 

The current generation’s grandfather started Chinaco in 1972 and fought for approval making Tequilera la Gonzalena one of the few distilleries outside Jalisco and the only tequila distillery in Tamaulipas. Tequilera la Gonzalena also is one of the only tequileras that produces just one flagship brand.

Chinaco

A BENCHMARK TEQUILA

Authentically Mexican, Chinaco Tequila embodies Mexico like no other tequila can – three generations of family tradition go into producing the finest artisanal tequila possible. Chinaco was the first and is still the only tequila distillery in Tamaulipas. To this day, Chinaco utilizes the same exact formula as it did in 1978, and is dedicated to creating a handcrafted product with the highest standards of craftsmanship that have been its trademarks since its inception. It is with good reason Chinaco Tequila truly stands apart from all other tequilas.