The Birth of an Idea
Fabiola Nieto, the founder of Wine for Hiking, found inspiration during a hike with her brother Julio in San Nicolás Totolapan. While navigating a challenging moment, she heard the phrase that would change everything: “Why not combine wine with the mountains?” This sparked an idea to teach about wine through hiking and observing the surroundings. Thus, Wine for Hiking was born.
The Flourishing of the Concept
Wine for Hiking is a sensory, moving workshop. Fabiola meticulously designed each route to take advantage of the local terrain and vegetation, adapting the experience to the seasons. “The forest doesn’t smell the same during rainy or dry periods, and this is reflected in wine as well,” she explains.
Family and Community
From the start, family played a crucial role. Julio was the first to traverse the route, followed by their father, other brother, niece, and son. This created shared memories that became part of the project’s DNA.
Today, Wine for Hiking boasts an active community with a VIP group of over 230 members where they announce outings, share photos, and recommendations. Fabiola highlights the importance of this group as a space to foster trust and build friendships: “Some have met through our experiences and are now couples. Others travel together.” Wine for Hiking has become more than just hiking and wine tasting.
Entrepreneurship with Intuition
Fabiola has been an entrepreneur since her twenties, learning through practice rather than formal financial training. She separated accounts, respected budgets, adjusted prices, and most importantly, listened.
Today, she coordinates a team of six who help plan outings, set up and guide groups on various routes. “It’s my responsibility to ensure everyone returns safely, leaves no trash, and leaves the place better than they found it.”
Growth and Expansion
Wine for Hiking’s growth has been carefully planned to preserve its essence. Fabiola aims for each experience to be personal and memorable.
Looking ahead, she envisions franchises in states like Querétaro, Guanajuato, and Puebla, replicating the model without compromising quality. She also dreams of bringing Wine for Hiking to Tuscany, Italy: “It would be fantastic to explore and then lead groups there.” Additionally, she plans routes in Huasca de Ocampo and thematic outings for vegan or LGBTQ+ audiences.
Objective: Open the Senses
The hike isn’t just about teaching aromas; the stops are designed to open conversations about terroir, origin, and how nature imprints character on each bottle with the mountain as a living classroom.
Even wine professionals who have taken the tour are surprised by how their descriptions of aromas change after experiencing them “in the wild.”
Shared Philosophy
“Wine is different every vintage; the mountain is different with each climb. We must learn to adapt,” Fabiola says.
Wine for Hiking invites participants to pause, learn, and connect with others. It’s an experience that encourages rethinking one’s relationship with wine, understanding its story begins in the soil.
“It’s a way to return to basics, to remember that before the label, wine is land, earth, climate, and time.”
Explore their routes. To learn about upcoming dates, available tours, past experience images, and more about wine and nature, follow them on Instagram: @wineforhiking and @vinoycomidamx.
