Ezequiel Montes: Charrería, Churches and Wineries

Ezequiel Montes brings together a history shaped by cattle ranching and charrería, religious traditions, and a diverse wine offering throughout the municipality. When planning your trip, it is worth distinguishing between attractions in the town and destinations elsewhere in the municipality. This lets you choose the focus of your stay more deliberately.

Local History and Charrería

Ezequiel Montes originated at the Corral Blanco ranch, which was established by eight families. Charrería is still practiced here as an expression of the local cattle-ranching tradition. The connection between the town and its traditions is also reflected in the Iglesia Chiquita: the church was completed in 1905 and is now dedicated to Nuestra Señora del Carmen.

Religious customs also shape the annual calendar. The December novena described for 2023 included pilgrimages from the neighborhoods and outlying communities of the municipal seat, as well as Indigenous dances in the main garden around the church. For more than three decades, the Procession of Silence has wound through the town’s streets. As participation grew, it was moved from the La Divina Providencia church to the main garden. For future trips, check the dates and program in advance.

Festivals and Local Life

The traditional Feria de Ezequiel Montes featured cultural events, dances, horse races, sports, and charrería. In later years, the fair was not held regularly, and its dates and themes varied. These included, among other things, meat and wine festivals, as well as arts and crafts and cultural festivals. If you would like to plan your trip around an event, check the dates for the year you intend to travel.

The municipal seat is also known as a center for business tourism, wholesale food markets, and cattle ranching. This adds a glimpse of the town’s economic character to its cultural attractions.

Villa Progreso and Regional Specialties

The community of Villa Progreso is located within the municipality. It has workshops producing ixtle goods and ceramics, including Cerámica Servín. The community’s cultural highlights also include old Otomi chapels and the San Miguel Arcángel church. Its crafts and buildings offer different ways to discover the region’s culture.

Local cuisine is another part of getting to know the region: specialties highlighted in the municipality include nopal en penca and gorditas de maíz quebrado. Within the municipality, Peña de Bernal is described as a monolith, a protected natural area, and one of Mexico’s 13 natural wonders.

Wineries in the Municipality

Ezequiel Montes municipality offers several different wine-related experiences. From Ezequiel Montes, Bodega Sala Vivé is located along the same road, just beyond the town. Tours of its facilities include a 25-meter-deep wine cellar and explanations of the winemaking process. Daily tours are offered at various times in the morning and afternoon; the program also includes experiences such as the Uva Bus, wine tastings, and horseback rides through the vineyards. Sala Vivé’s traditional festivals include the Fiesta de la Vendimia, the Festival de la Cosecha de la Uva, and the Festival de la Paella.

Sala Vivé also offers food and drink for visitors: the Food Garden serves cheese boards, cured meats, pasta, and pizza, while the Wine Bar serves the winery’s full range of wines. At Viñedos Azteca, the offerings include tastings of up to five wine varieties, visits to the vines, and tours of the Enobar, Vermutería, and winery. Tastings with food pairings can be arranged on request. Also mentioned are horseback rides, lakeside picnics, and bottle painting for children.

La Redonda planted its first vineyard in 1975 and has more than 40 years of winemaking tradition. Its offerings include an Italian-Mexican restaurant, a Wine Bar, and a Wine Garden, where wine is served with, among other things, a generous cheese board. Tours, tastings, and dining therefore offer different experiences within the municipality. As dates, activities, and food offerings may vary, check the current options before your visit.

Explore more destinations: Tequisquiapan, Conca, Amealco De Bonfil, Coyote, San Juan Del Río, Tlacote el Alto, Santa Rosa Jáuregui, Vizarron De Montes.

For the regional travel overview: Querétaro.