If you’re a tequila lover (or ever hoped to be), there’s a resort in Mexico you must visit. Marriott Puerto Vallarta Resort & Spa recently became the only Marriott resort in the world to bottle its own line of tequila. CasaMagna Tequila is harvested from blue agave plants grown onsite at the hotel in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, and in other parts of the Jalisco region.
Guests can book a complimentary tequila tasting led by the resort’s own tequilera—like a tequila sommelier—to learn how to fully appreciate the richly-historic spirit. Audrey Formisano hails from France but settled in Puerto Vallarta due to her love of tequila. As the tequila sommelier at Marriott Puerto Vallarta Resort & Spa, she guides guests as they sample different varieties of tequila and teaches them about its origin and creation.
Included in the resort fee, the tequila tasting class is the ideal way for spirit lovers to increase their knowledge and love of tequila. See below for a Q&A with Audrey and get her take on why tequila shouldn’t be taken as a shot!
Sunshine in a Bottle Package at Marriott Puerto Vallarta Resort & Spa
Located on a sandy strip between the Sierra Madre Mountains and Banderas Bay, the beachfront Marriott Puerto Vallarta Resort & Spa is an upscale haven with pools, multiple onsite restaurants, a spa and even a golf club across the way.
The resort’s Sunshine in a Bottle package includes a full bottle of CasaMagna blanco tequila per reservation, along with accommodations, a daily breakfast buffet for two and daily $25 resort credit. It’s the ultimate getaway for travelers with a taste for tequila.
Book the Sunshine in a Bottle package using the promo code P53—it’s available for stays through August 30, 2019!
Q&A With Tequila Sommelier, Audrey Formisano
Get an inside look at the tequila tasting experience at Marriott Puerto Vallarta Resort & Spa with Audrey Formisano, the official tequilera of the resort.
Your love of tequila sent you from France to settle in Puerto Vallarta. What’s behind your passion for the liquor?
As a foreigner from France, I was quite familiar with wine, but was always curious to learn more about the art of tequila. I knew that moving to Mexico would really submerge me in the culture. I earned a degree in hotel management followed by a sommelier degree in 2006. Shortly after, the resort developed their own tequila brand, CasaMagna Tequila, and I was thrilled to be a part of that process and help develop a more well-rounded tequila education program. I really enjoy seeing the way that locals in Mexico enjoy tequila, and the more I learned, the more I understood and appreciated it.
What do you tell people to look for when they do a tequila tasting with you? Flavors, feels, etc?
It’s important to first understand where tequila comes from and the process of distilling this fine spirit. There are different types of tequila, ranging from blanco—the youngest of them all—to añejo, which is aged and tends to be smoother. There is also a proper way to sip tequila, using your sense of smell to pick up on the different notes, such as floral, herbal, smokey, etc. I’ve worked in this industry for more than 15 years, so I have a pretty good understanding of this spirit and am able to guide tequila drinkers of all levels in such a way that they will come to appreciate the different varieties.
What’s your favorite part of a tequila tasting experience?
My favorite part is teaching our guests the history behind tequila and Jalisco—I think that’s essential to appreciating the spirit—and then watching them as they sip the different types and determine their preferred flavor profile. I especially enjoy changing people’s perceptions of tequila. Unfortunately, many are taught that tequila should be taken as a shot because it has an undesirable taste, but the reality is that quality tequila is a beautifully-crafted spirit that is meant to be sipped and savored and enjoyed slowly. During my tastings, it’s almost as if our guests discover tequila for the first time. Developing their appreciation for it is very rewarding.
What is special about the hotel’s CasaMagna Tequila?
We are the only Marriott in the world to produce our own brand of tequila, which is harvested from the blue agave plants grown onsite and of course in other areas of the Jalisco region. We have different varieties—a blanco, reposado, añejo, and extra añejo—to please all types of palates.
What’s your favorite way to drink tequila?
To me, it’s all about the art of sipping. I like to savor the flavor! If we’re talking cocktails, I also enjoy Palomas, a classic Mexican cocktail made with grapefruit-flavored soda and fresh lime.
Tags: Mexico, Puerto Vallarta
