AGAVE

Luis Torres
Owner of Rancho La Garita 
Jalisco, Mexico

Luis gives centre stage to his fields, which are located in the Jaliscan Highlands. He considers that he is just passing through this land, while the blue agave that grows here has been harvested for over 2,000 years.

LANDSCAPE.

Have you ever seen a field of agave? The blue-green leaves of the cactus, the red earth, the perfectly geometrical pattern of the rows. Stefania and I are always amazed by so much beauty. I’m proud to say that our agave landscape has been designated as a cultural UNESCO World Heritage Site.

This is recognition of our work, our link to the land, and our identity, the agaveros and jimadores who farm this plant. The agave demands patience and attentiveness: harvest it too early, and the juice will be bitter. Too late, and there will be no juice at all. You have to watch it grow, helping it along, and decide when it’s the right time to harvest it – after six or seven years.

The knowledge passed down over generations allows you to choose when the time has come. For me, being an agavero is about both craft and heritage. What makes all the difference with Stefania is that she understands this perfectly.