is considered one of the most biodiverse places in the world. Its high desert mountain ranges, arid, open plains, and rolling river valleys have created the natural habitats for the largest variety of wild agave species on the planet.

Santiago Matatlán

A sign reading, “Welcome to the mezcal capital of the world,” hangs over the one road leading into Santiago Matatlán, a village with a two-centuries-year-long tradition of mezcal production. Matatlán sits within Oaxaca’s Valles Centrales, in the shadows of the Sierra Sur Mountains. It is the home range to a diverse amount of wild magueys and sweeping vistas of cultivated Espadín agave fields.

San Luis del Río

The village of San Luis del Río is tucked within a seemingly endless tide of rugged mountain sides which roll back to reveal a lush, winding river valley. The area’s steep, sunbaked hills are speckled with wild agaves and lined with rows of the valley’s prized Espadín magueys. This region steadily produces outstanding mezcales, with Espadín from San Luis del Río being a famous combination of plant and place among agave lovers.

Santa María Zoquitlán

Santa María Zoquitlán is set within a wondrous territory of rugged ridgelines and sweeping river basins. This small town is cradled by two converging river valleys and flanked with hillsides studded with rare agaves such as Jabalí and Tepeztate. The tradition of mezcal production in this area dates back generations, and the area boasts a unique array and concentration of wild magueys that are rarely found in other areas.

Lachiguí Ranch, Miahuatlán

The Lachiguí landscape is a nearly impenetrable zone in the Sierra Sur Mountains, stacked with miles of jagged mountains rising up from valleys filled with deep shadows and ancient secrets. The terrain is daunting, sublime, and unspoiled - much like the mezcales from this otherworldly part of Oaxaca. There are a select few families who produce mezcal in these wildlands, and their personalities and the spirits they distill reflect this bold, spectacular area of theirs.