I'll be the first person to admit that wine is a drink one would typically never associate with Mexico, not its consumption nor its production. Tequila and cerveza and mezcal, for sure, but not wine.

The stereotype is well-justified, backed up by historical evidence as well as current habits: According to Vinisfera.com, Mexicans drink about 500 ml of wine per person annually - the equivalent of a couple glasses per year. The purchase/production of Mexican wines is highly taxed by the government (as high as 40% in the past), which no doubt has driven the market to the abundance of beer and tequila options. In any case, most areas of Mexico don't have the climate to support a wine region, leaving a majority of the population indifferent toward and without connection to the bottles they see on the shelves.

One small region located outside of the Mexican mainland is working hard to change that perspective, an area known as the Valle de Guadalupe in Baja California that produces 80% of the country's wine (about 85 miles south of San Diego). What's amazing about that statistic is that while 90% of American wine is produced in California, Napa's contribution is only 4% of that 90%. That says a lot about how small the production of wine is in Mexico in general, compared to the United States, considering the Valle de Guadalupe and Napa Valley are approximately the same size. Napa has approx. 40,000 acres dedicated to wine making, whereas there are only 6,200 acres in all of Baja (including Valle de Guadalupe, San Vicente Valley, and Santo Tomas Valley).

That's the reality of it - the state of the union, if you will - but let's not dwell on numbers and history. What about the quality of the wine today? Forget the number of bottles produced - how does it taste? Pretty damn good, I must say, and others agree, sparking the emergence of the first 'vinotherapy' spa in Mexico, located in the Fiesta Americana Grand Los Cabos.

It's called the SOMMA WineSpa, the name a tribute to the Somma Lombardo Wine Region in Italy (and 'soma' with one 'm' is the Greek word for 'body'). The spa integrates both the health and celebratory concepts of wine into massage therapy. This includes the creation of their creams - research has revealed the grape to contain excellent exfoliating properties and powerful antioxidants seven times richer in phenols than Vitamin E.

The less scientifically inclined need only understand that a glass of wine is served to every guest after their wine-infused treatment, paired with daily custom appetizers from the chef to be enjoyed on the terrace or in the relaxation rooms. Other services include a private couple’s massage room with hot tub and steam room, Valle de Guadalupe wine tasting, reflexology massages in private beach cabanas, and the Barefoot Elegance Experience,which we discussed yesterday.

Wine spas can be found all over the world, but this is the first one to establish itself in Mexico. Although it opened about five years ago, Spa Manager Francisco Lugo believes it is now fully realizing its potential thanks to the increase in quality and popularity of Mexican wine.

“We want to show that we’re ready to offer this type of service, that our wines in Mexico are good enough,” he said. “Wine is a symbol of celebration, and we want our concept to speak to the same idea.”

The spa is open to guests of the resort and walk-ins alike. For more information, visit the Fiesta Americana Grand's website.

When I opened my eyes, the sun was completely gone, the mountains now fully blocking its light. We arrived on the beach as twilight was setting in - the stars not yet visible but the glow from the fire slowly becoming more and more prominent - but it had all changed while I laid in the chair. I had drifted off, the hands of the masseuse doing work on the lower parts of my legs, the scenery transitioning in front of my closed eyes to the now dark sky.

Before I sat down, the masseuse had taken me by the hand and led me over to a bucket full of grapes, instructing me to stomp down on them. It was a form of a foot massage, a part of the vinotherapytheology held by the hotel and its spa (something we'll talk about in more detail in the next post).

The grape stomp led into the aforementionedreflexology foot massage - the first two parts of the Barefoot Elegance Experience at the Fiesta Americana Grand Los Cabos. The night is designed as a romantic option for couples, the massages followed by a wine tasting and appetizer pairing and a private dinner on the beach.

Resort Sommelier Jorge Bazignan walked us through the wine and food pairing, and while it was obvious he could talk about wine while hanging upside-down and blindfolded, I appreciated his down-to-earth approach. Forget the tannin count, he told us flatly, let's taste the wine with the food and enjoy this beautiful evening. I sipped my wine, holding the glass up to the glow of the fire. That's right, I thought, let me enjoy this glass of wine in the beautiful beach setting, watch the flames dance in front of me and hear the water washing up on the shore. That sounds like one hell of a plan. I didn't have a date with me, but if I had I would have looked into her eyes and smiled.

The appetizers were salmon and brie, the wines all local vino from the Guadalupe Valley a few hours up the coast (near Rosarito Beach... see the story about my visit to the area here. La Cetto, one of the more notable wineries in the region, even has a bull ring that they use for harvest celebrations).

Dinner was next, a three-course meal prepared right there on the beach. Sea urchin soup, marinated tuna in ginger pasta, and a chocolate trilogy were on our menu, but guests can customize their own to fit any dietary desires.

Check out some of these photos, including just how amazing the sky can look as the sun sets over the mountains behind the resort. Price for the Barefoot Elegance Experience is $300/person, which includes a welcome cocktail, reflexology massage, wine tasting, appetizers, private beach cabana, and three-course dinner.