You know the type: when they show up, the room changes. There’s just something about them. With them arrives an energy – they are kinetic and magnetic. And yes, attractive. They orbit around each other, and everyone else around them, inevitably. Great stories, better jokes, and a strong interpersonal connection cemented with fierce but friendly eye contact. Bon vivants, now immediate best friends.

That’s Patrick and Lisa.

Proud owners of Beso Imports in Anacortes, the two found each other at a climbing gym, and haven’t looked down, or back, since. After years of travelling together in their free time experiencing the world’s best, they uncovered a gem: a hidden valley of exquisite vineyards. Tastings led to friendships led to business relationships, and in January 2018, the two established Beso Imports. It is with that same room-altering presence and passion, Patrick and Lisa approach their business of importing world-class wine from Mexico.

Yes, Mexico.

If you let your mind wander south of the border, where does it take you? The more popularized images include tacos, tequila, beaches, and bright colors. Margaritas and pool parties, siestas and sunburns. And maybe, drugs and danger, too. Indeed, Mexico is a place of great celebration and spirit. Mucha fiesta: feast and fest.

When I think of Mexico, a piñata explodes – a sweet scattering of thoughts, too much to grasp or gather all at once. But I try anyway. I envision tiny ants marching across a tile counter, masters of opportunity feeding the queen with my tostada crumbs. Street dogs and beach dogs with wagging tongues and tails. Kissing a stranger in the bar, a couple kissing on a park bench in el jardin. Architecture – both modern-day Mexico City and of Mayan ruins. Of standing atop the Temple of the Moon contemplating el pasado and el futuro while eating a peanut butter ‘n’ jelly sandwich. A bright scorching sun separated from an underwater world of caves and caverns by jungle vines and bougainvillea. Waking up to the sound of horned instruments – a random parade passing by in the street, a riotous reminder to celebrate… whatever you want.

Mexico is vibrant—a land of details, of contrast, of pride. And just when I thought it couldn’t get any sweeter, I met them. And you know the type: only they could pull off such an enterprise. When Patrick at Lisa showed up to the Co-op for a private wine tasting, we just knew – knew that we had to partner with them to bring Mexican wines to you.

We swished and we swirled, while Patrick and Lisa shared the relatively untold story of Valle de Guadalupe. Valle de Guadalupe lies east of Ensenada and a few hours south of California on the Baja Peninsula. The valley boasts a Mediterranean growing climate tempered by the marine influence of the Pacific. And while this may be your first encounter with “El Valle”, the region’s first grapes were planted in 1791.

Centuries-old vines paired with Mexican tradition, passion, and pride have resulted in unparalleled fruit, both in variety and character – grapes that taste of place – the epitome of terroir.

The region has been compared to Napa before it was Napa, but here, there will be no massive expansion, nor degradation of charm or merit. The valley itself is limited by geography, tucked tightly between mountains and ocean. More importantly, El Valle’s viticulturists are a talented group, committed to making wine the right way. There’s no desire to scale up; they care too much about the land, the vines, their livelihoods. Most of the wineries focus on small batch production. In a typical year, a winery may release 2,000 cases of wine, a stark contrast to the megaliths who release 80,000 cases of a single wine. In El Valle, the ethos is quality over quantity every time. And, this year’s vintage doesn’t taste exactly the same as last year’s, because it shouldn’t. The nuances of a growing season are intended to be a pleasant surprise on the palate.

Patrick and Lisa were drawn in by the people, their acumen and attention to detail. The two tasted offerings from over 150 wineries in Valle de Guadalupe to refine their portfolio, which is the most extensive portfolio of Mexican wines available in the U.S., with exclusive import of over 50 wines from 12 boutique estates to the Washington market.

Patrick and Lisa say it best: “We have made it our mission to navigate the region with onsite experience grounded in personal direct relationships with winery owners and their vintners. Every wine that makes it into our portfolio does so after having been tasted by us personally during visits to the estates. We take the time to familiarize ourselves with the principal members of the wine making team, their wines, their wine making practices, as well as the land they cultivate and the philosophy that drives them. We are proud to say that the practices and people behind these wines are just as interesting as the wines themselves - driving their appeal with a quality that is both authentic and just downright delicious.”

The dedication to excellence is obvious when you pick up a bottle. There’s an empty bottle of Monte Xenic Chenin Blanc sitting on a shelf in my garage that weighs two pounds. It doesn’t have to, but it just feels right, like a velvety piece of stationery. (And yes, I’m still dreaming and scheming a way to build an earthship home out of all the wine bottles I’ve consumed in my lifetime.)

And the art! Oh, the art. Maybe you, too, sometimes select a wine simply because the label made you do it. Many of the wineries collaborate with local artists to create one-of-a-kind designs. I happen to have have a bottle of (unopened) Finca de Carrodilla Canto de Luna (Song of the Moon) on my kitchen counter, that enticed me with gold foil branches and slender sprite fingers skimming a dark and mysterious pool. There is no doubt, magic at the bottom.

Pride, intention, spirit. It’s how viticulturists in El Valle approach their wines; it’s how Patrick and Lisa approach their relationships and business; and it ripples through each and every bottle. One sip and you’ll know. Guadalupe belongs on the list of West Coast wines you already know – Napa, Willamette, Columbia.

And so, it is with great pride, from one magical valley to another, you’ll find a rotating selection of Beso Imports specialty wines here at the Co-op, so you can uncork a little part of Mexico.

Meet Patrick & Lisa of Beso Imports