Dominio de las Abejas Estate
Founded: 2015 by Mauricio Ruiz and family
Winemaker: Mauricio Ruiz (Mexican born, lives part time in Ensenada and part time in Australia where he runs two other organic biodynamic natural wineries
Winery location: Valle de Ojos Negros, Baja California
Region and grape source: Las Abejas is a concept winery that was started based on choosing the best possible piece of land for growing grapes in anticipation of climate change. Their search alighted on a piece of land in the high elevation Valle de Ojos Negros in Baja California, located just south and slightly inland from Valle de Guadalupe. Priority was placed on organic certification since the beginning, and the vineyards are certified organic by the CCOF. All grapes in their wines come from estate vineyards.
Vineyard location, elevation and grape varieties: The las Abejas vineyard is located in a very unique section of Valle de Ojos Negros that was once a marsh, (when the water table was much higher than it is now). The marsh was a resource for untold generations of migratory waterfowl all of which left deposits that enriched the soil. The marsh was gone long before they purchased the land, but the signature of this period is left in the rich and unique composition of the soil which has far more organic content than the surrounding area. At 2,200 ft in elevation, the main challenge of growing grapes here is the threat of frost during the growing season. They grow 10 grape varieties: Nebbiolo, Grenache, Nero D' Avola, Cinsault, Carignan, Chardonnay, Marsanne, Sauvignon Blanc, Colombard, and Zinfandel.
Notes:
- The wines of las Abejas are made naturally. Ambient yeast fermentation, no corrections or additions, no filtration or fining and only a 30 ppm sulfite addition at bottling. This absolute gem of an estate is one of only a handful of organic certified vineyards in Mexico making 100% natural wine that is clean and precise, showing no faults of any kind. Their creations are at the top level of natural wines worldwide.
Total Production: 5 wines 3,400 cases
2024 Nectar de Campo - Dominio de las Abejas
Tasting Notes and Drinking Window:
The 2024 vintage in Ojos Negros came in hot and fast—a tightly packed season with nearly all the fruit picked in a four-week sprint. Dry conditions kept yields in check but turned up the quality, with beautifully concentrated Grenache in late September and Nero d’Avola following into mid-October.
Nectar de Campo keeps it focused with a Grenache–Nero blend: Grenache brings the juicy red fruit and spice, while Nero snaps everything into place with freshness and structure. The vibe? Mediterranean by way of Northern Mexico, with tart cherry, dried herbs, and a hint of tea-like earthiness.
Bright, savory, and sneakily complex, this is the kind of wine that feels easygoing at first—then keeps you coming back for another look.
908 cases made
Drinking window: upon release - 10 yearsVintage:
2024
Blend:
68% Grenache, 32% Nero d'Avola
Producer:
Dominio de las Abejas
Winemaker:
Mauricio Ruiz - Mexican
Vineyards:
Valle de Ojos Negros - Estate vineyards planted in 2015 (with additional plantings in 2022) on the site of an ancient riverbed composed of a variety of soil profiles. At an elevation of 2,200ft, this is high desert, and the very definition of extreme viticulture. Vineyards are certified organic by the CCOF.
Winemaking:
Nectar de Campo translates to “nectar of the fields” in English, and as the name implies, it’s a blend. The Grenache was picked at the end of September and the Nero on the 15th of October, which is a much longer growing season than normal. Both were fermented on native yeast, (some full cluster) for a period of 12 days in stainless steel tanks. The wine was then and left to age on the lees for a period of 10 months in stainless tanks before being bottled without filtration or fining.
Sulfites: 30 ppmFarming:
Organic, sustainable
Alcohol:
13.0%
