LA MAESTRA MEZCALERA
DOÑA VICTORIA
MEET DOÑA VICTORIA
Name: Victoria Mendez Gomez
Experience: 18 years
Language: Zapoteca
Village: San Dionisio Ocotepec
Process: Artisanal and Ancestral
Specialties: Espadín, Jabalí, Cirial, Madrecuishe, Tobalá, Ensamble Espadín-Cirial
Doña Victoria is a leader in her community, always looking to better the people living in it. She’s been providing jobs for years in her palenque and nursery. The people helping her clean agave and they produce mezcal following her practices and traditions.
Victoria has taught her children and neighbors sustainable methods to grow agave and to use natural fertilizers that are byproducts of the process. She believes mother earth is generous and we need to respect her giving back as much as we can to prosper for years to come. Producing mezcal is a family tradition. Producing it with culture and passion is what makes her happy.
SAN DIONISIO OCOTEPEC, OAXACA
The town of San Dionisio Ocotepec is located in the Municipality of San Dionisio Ocotepec (in the State of Oaxaca). There are 5,960 inhabitants. Of all the towns in the municipality, it occupies the number #1 in terms of number of inhabitants.
The San Dionisio Ocotepec Zapotec language is spoken by about 5,000 people in and around the town. The Zapotec is one of many different Zapotec languages spoken in the Valley of Oaxaca. It is similar to the Zapotec spoken in San Pablo Güilá, but the two languages also have notable differences.
PROLIJO MEZCAL, 100% MAGUEY SPADÍN
Agave: Mature espadín and family grown (8-10 years)
Oven Size: 10 tons
Cook Time: 4-5 days
Rest Between Oven and Mill: 1 day
Wood: Leña
Mill Type: chopped by hand with a hatchet, then fed into a Tahona
Fermentation vessel: Open air ayacahuite tinas
Water Source: Spring
Fermentation Time: 5-7 days
Still Type: 3 Copper Alambiques (400 liters/each)
Distillations: Twice
ALC/VOL: 43 ABV
San Dionisio Ocotepec is at 5,500 feet above sea level.
AVERAGE TEMPERATURE IN SAN DIONISIO OCOTEPEC
The warm season lasts for 1.9 months, from March 21 to May 18, with an average daily high temperature above 80°F. The warmest month of the year in San Dionisio Ocotepec is May, with an average maximum temperature of 27 °C and a minimum of 14 °C. The cool season lasts for 7.3 months, from June 22 to January 30, with an average daily high temperature below 75°F. The coldest month of the year in San Dionisio Ocotepec is January, with an average minimum temperature of 7 °C and a maximum of 24 °C.
Sip mezcal, enjoy the agaves and the time it took for them to mature.
”Dixbeu”