A vinata is a mezcal or sotol distillery. The word is used by mezcal producers in Michoacan, Sinaloa, and Nuevo Leon; mezcal and sotol producers in Durango; bacanora, lechuguilla, and palmilla producers in Sonora; and sotol producers in Chihuahua. While some large production facilities apply the term in their marketing, the word vinata most often describes a rustic distillery, which is likely to be rural and may not even have walls or (in the case of bacanora production) a roof. Although production methods, stills, and architecture (or lack thereof) vary by place, vinata, taberna, and palenque are just regional words for similar facilities.
The word vinata is no doubt derived from vino, as in vino de mezcal. Historically, the word “vino” has been used in Mexico to describe both wines and liquors. It is still synonymous with mezcal in certain rural regions.
To virtually visit a vinata, check out Susan’s post on her excursion to Durango or Bryant Orozco’s journey to his bacanora roots.
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