Origin of the Tequila

Tequila is made from the "blue Agave plant" and its production is limited to certain geographic areas, primarily to the state of Jalisco in West-Central Mexico. Although it is subject to strict production standards and labeling regulations, adulterated samples have occasionally been reported, the researchers say. The exact percentage of fraudulent samples on the market is unknown, they add. Four others can legally produce Tequila

While all of Jalisco can legally grow the blue agave for tequila, or produce tequila, only a portion of four other states can do so. Of these, three (Michoacan, Guanajuato and Nayarit) border Jalisco. The fourth, Tamaulipas, is further east, on Mexico's Caribbean (Gulf) coast. More than 80% of all blue agave is grown in Jalisco (more than 336 million agaves planted throughout Mexico in the years 2000 to 2006).  Once all tequila had to be made by law in Jalisco state. Although that has been changed for more than 20 years, only two distilleries are currently in business outside Jalisco. The owners of La Gonzaleña - makers of Chinaco - fought a long battle to get the laws changed to permit tequila to be made outside Jalisco. They won their fight only in 1977, and now operate the sole distillery in the northeast state of Tamaulipas. The other distillery outside Jalisco is Tequilera Corralejo, which opened in 1996 in the city of Penjamo, in Jalisco's neighbouring state of Guanajuato. This distillery is named after an earlier distillery opened in the state in 1755. Blue agave for tequila use may also be grown in the states of Nayarit, Guanajuato and Michoacan. There are four tequila producing regions defined by the CRT. Region 1 is the west and northwest portions of Jalisco, plus the counties in Michoacan and Guanajuato. Region 2 is the Tequila region of central Jalisco, and the counties of Nayarit. Region 3 is the eastern and southern portion of Jalisco (including the Los Altos region). Region 4 is Tamaulipas. In total there are 180 municipalities (counties) in the five states that can produce tequila or grow the blue agave for tequila.

Michoacan: 30 counties  

• Cojumatlán de Régules
• Los Reyes
• Sahuayo
• Tancítaro
• Tangamandapio
• Tangancícuaro
• Tanhuato
• Tinguindín
• Tocumbo
• Venustiano Carranza
• Villamar
• Vistahermosa

• Yurécuaro

• Zamora
• Zináparo

Total agave plants planted 2000-2006: 12,142,505.
 

Guanajuato: 7 counties

• Abasolo
• Cuerámaro
• Huanimaro
• Manuel Doblado
• Pénjamo
• Purísima del Rincón
• Romita

Total agave plants planted 2000-2006: 7,727,415.

Tamaulipas: 11 counties

• Aldama
• Altamira
• Antiguo Morelos
• Gómez Farías
• GonzalezLlera
• Mante, El
• Nuevo Morelos
• Ocampo
• Tula
• Xicoténcatl

Total agave plants planted 2000-2006: 8,714,636.

Tamaulipas is the home of Chinaco, the first tequila producer to be allowed to open outside Jalisco. Chinaco was also the first super-premium tequila sold in the USA, in 1983.

Chinaco was founded by Guillermo Gonzalez. He began by growing blue agave for a Jalisco producer in the mid-1960s, but when the producer offered less than what was promised, Gonzalez decided to make his own tequila. However, the government would not let him register his company because it was outside Jalisco. Gonzalez lobbied for more than a decade, but it wasn't until 1976, under President Lopez Portillo, that he found government support.  Eleven counties in Tamaulipas were formally added to the NORMA on October, 13, 1977. Guillermo passed away in 1996, but his company was taken over by his four sons in 1993, who continue to make and sell tequila.

 Nayarit: 9 counties

• Ahuacatlán
• matlán de Cañas
• Ixtlán del Rio
• Jala
• Xalisco
• San Pedro Lagunillas
• Santa María del Oro
• Tepic

Total agave plants planted 2000-2006: 29,757,636.