The countdown begins! Mark your calendars and start making plans for the 17th annual Agave Heritage Festival on Thursday, April 10 – Sunday, April 13.
In a recent article in Forbes, journalist Rona Berg had a few nice things to say about her experience at last year’s festival, mentioning, “There is no shortage of agave-inspired drinks in town, a reflection of Tucson’s Mexican community.”
Each year, the festival provides a weekend of culinary dinners and educational tastings featuring NETA, Cambio Tequila, Alma Del Jaguar and Del Maguey, Esfuerzo, and other agave spirits. Also, world class agave pros including Paul and Suze Phish, and award-winning authors Ted Jenoways and Gary Nabhan are just a few special guests appearing this year.
(Photo courtesy of the Agave Heritage Festival)
“Mexico, of course, is the heart and soul of the agave world, centered in Oaxaca,” Berg added. “And the Agave Heritage Festival in Tucson, from April 10-13, is the place to be for anyone who cares about agave.”
“Now more than ever, the binational relationship between Arizona and Mexico is so very important,” said Todd Hanley, Founder of the Agave Heritage Festival. “I can only hope that the festival plays a role in creating a strong connection and prosperity for all.”
However, keep scrolling to see the full schedule of events.
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
Thursday, April 10
8 – 11 a.m. – Agave Planting at Mission Garden
3 – 4 p.m. – Howard Scott Gentry Lecture, at the Carriage House
5 – 11pm – Noche De Mezcal
Noche de Mezcal (formerly Mezcrawl) returns this year. Guests begin with a mezcal toast and select their tasting adventure from 11 participating local bars and restaurants. Some of the participating mezcal brands include Cambio Tequila, Lost Explorer, Alma del Jaguar, and NETA Mezcal.
6 – 8 p.m. – Guided Tasting at Tap & Bottle North: Featuring La Gritona & Bara-Cara
7 – 9 p.m. – Educational Tasting at Bar Crisol: Featuring Los Cantiles 1905
9 – 11 p.m. – Bar Takeover at Bar Crisol X Madre
Friday, April 11
9 a.m. – 6 p.m. – Agave Renaissance Summit at Hotel Congress
The 2025 Summit brings the vision of the City of Century plants to reality, uniting communities across borders to foster agave sustainability, cultural heritage, and economic resilience for future generations. The day-long event builds on the conversations and Agave Summits in Tucson in 2023 and Sonora in 2024, focusing on several critical topic areas of action.
Noon – 2 p.m. – Book Signing Event at Petroglyphs
Author Ted Genoways will appear at a book signing event for his award-winning book “Tequila Wars: Jose Cuervo and the Bloody Struggle for the Spirit of Mexico.”
Where food, tequila, and tradition come together in an immersive celebration of agave and regional gastronomy. Maynards Executive Chef Roderick LeDesma presents a five-course dining experience that showcases the flavors of the Sonoran Desert, paired with both neat pours and artful cocktails featuring La Gritona Reposado Tequila. La Gritona brand expert and Chef LeDesma will guide guests through each course throughout the evening.
6 – 8 p.m. – Educational Tasting at Bar Crisol: Featuring NETA and PM Spirit
6 – 7 p.m. – Guided Tasting at Tap & Bottle Downtown: Sip & Switch with Tequila Ocho
9 – 11:30 p.m. – Bar Takeover: Little Rituals at Hotel Congress Lobby Bar X
Saturday, April 12
9 – 11:30 a.m. – Agave Lifetime Career Award Lecture at Mission Garden
Agave Industry scientists Paul and Susy Phish, will receive the Agave Lifetime Career Award for their lifetime of research on ancient agave cultivation and its role in the Sonoran Desert’s rich history.
11:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. – Agave Talks & Tastings at Hotel Congress
Noon – 1 p.m. and 2 – 3 p.m.– Guided Mezcal & Chocolate Pairing at Westbound
5 – 7 p.m. – Educational Tasting at Bar Crisol: Featuring Northern Mexico Spirits
7 – 10 p.m. – Agave Fiesta Grande Tasting at Borderland Brewing Company
10 p.m. – midnight – Bar Takeover: BarCoa at Sonoran Moonshine
Sunday, April 13
10 a.m. – 2 p.m. – Borderlands Conservation Tour and Plant Sale
Explore the innovative conservation efforts of Borderlands Restoration Network and Bat Conservation International against the stunning backdrop of Patagonia, Arizona. This event features a guided tour of restoration sites, nectar-feeding bat conservation projects and a native plant sale to support regional agave conservation efforts.
5 p.m. – close – Tequila Ocho & Mezcal Vago at BATA
Chef Tyler Fenton will offer a five-course meal served family-style. Tequila cocktails and pairings from Mescal Vago and Tequila Ocho are included in the dinner. Brand expert Chris Simmons and Chef Fenton will offer their expertise to guests throughout the evening.
(Photo courtesy of the Agave Heritage Festival)
For more information and to purchase tickets to any of these events, visit agaveheritagefestival.com.
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At a very young age, Matt Sterner was gifted with the artistic ability to masterfully roll a burrito to the highest of standards, but the wrapped medley of delicious innards wasn’t his first love. Matt’s first true love was a combination of reading, writing, and creating. He grew up reading comics, the ingredients list of his shampoo and conditioner bottles, choose-your-own-adventure books, and the Scrabble dictionary — something he found useful when challenging his grandmother to a game.
He attended college at New Mexico State University and graduated with a degree in Digital Filmmaking. One of his favorite classes was screenwriting because he became responsible for the story’s birth before it came to life on-screen. After school, Matt took on numerous positions at a local television station in Tucson. From dealing out stories about heartbreak to producing “fluffier” content for a lifestyle broadcast, he learned what it takes to adapt to the many emotions the world of media can stir. Since 2017, Matt has dabbled in the culinary world of Tucson as well as San Diego, California from time to time.
If you’re in the mood for strange stories, head over to his pride and joy, wonkytimes.com. And in case you’re curious — yes, after all of this time, he still manages to roll a killer burrito.
