Belize is known more for its beer and rum than wine, but when traveling I always enjoy checking out wine lists in restaurants, shops, and grocery stores. As a small Caribbean country of only 420,000 people in 2020, located south of Mexico, Belize has a warm tropical climate that is not ideal for fine wine-grape growing. However, they do have fruit-based wines, with the most well-known made from dried hibiscus flowers, which they call sorrel wine.
Common Wine Brands in Belize
Like most first-time visitors we immediately took the 15 minute flight to San Pedro on the island called Ambergris Caye, after landing in the Belize City airport. San Pedro is the largest town, and they have one large wine shop called Wine de Vine, with a nice selection of wine. However, in the grocery stores, I only found inexpensive brands from Chile, Australia and the USA, such as Gato Negro, Yellow Tail, and Sutter Home. The small local restaurants did not offer wine, but beer and rum drinks were readily available.
The wine list at our resort, Coco Beach, was rather small, but actually included Dom Perignon and Veuve Clicquot along with the standard Chilean and Australian offerings. This hotel had very good food as well, and we dined on excellent grilled lobster and local seafood. Since I always travel with my own wine when visiting countries not known for wine production, we were able to have an incredible lobster dinner one evening in our condo over-looking the ocean with a nice bottle of Champagne Collet, which I unpacked from my suitcase.
We also visited Stella’s Sunset, which advertises a wine list, and includes more Italians selections, such as pinot grigio and prosecco, as well as French rose. I ordered a glass of pinot grigio, but had to send it back because it was old, yellow and oxidized. They apologized and opened a new bottle, explaining that it was hard to keep wine fresh in a tropical environment. In fact at our next resort, the bartender kindly recommended, “you are better off buying a whole bottle than wine by the glass because it will be fresher.”
After San Pedro, we flew back to Belize City and then took a private shuttle to the town of San Ignacio in the deep jungles near the Guatemala border. Here we stayed in the remote eco-lodge, Mystic River Resort, which is known for its excellent birding and beautiful gardens. Though the resort was amazing, and we took many day trips to the Mayan ruins and ATM caves, the wine list only included Gato Negro and Yellow Tail selections. We heard that Francis Ford Coppola opened a beautiful resort called Turtle Bay in Placencia, with – of course – an incredible wine cellar. Unfortunately with only 7 days in Belize, we were not able to make it to that part of the country. Next time….
Drink Beer, Juice and Coconut Rum in Belize to Match Cuisine
The cuisine of Belize is quite diverse because so many different cultures settled here, beginning with the ancient Mayans between 1500BC and 1200 AD, with their love of chocolate and corn. Next came the Spanish, then the British who imported slaves from Africa. Later Chinese, Caribbean and Mexicans immigrated to the country. Today there are also many Taiwanese people in Belize because of the strong partnership between these two countries. Given this diversity, the food in Belize is amazing, and we had many delicious meals of enchiladas, tostadas, tamales, shredded pork, fish soup, marinated goat, and a large variety of fresh vegetables and fruit, along with the ubiquitous rice and beans.
With this vast array of food types, the local drinks match very well. There are many types of fresh fruit juices, and my favorite was watermelon, which they sell at roadside stands. Belize also produces its own coconut rum, which is delicious. Given this, there are many fruit-juice and rum cocktails, with the most famous called a “panty ripper (unfortunate name),” made from pineapple juice, grenadine, and rum.
The local beers are also a good pairing for Belizean cuisine. The main brands are Belikin, Landshark and Lighthouse. My favorite was Landshark with lime, which reminded me of Corona. However, I don’t usually drink too much beer or fruit-juice cocktails because of the high carbs, but Landshark now has some great seltzers that are very low carb, low calorie and low alcohol, which I found to be delightful with unique local flavors such as watermelon and soursop.
Enjoy the Relaxed Vibe of Belize
Having visited Mexico many times, as well as Costa Rica and Panama, I was a little surprised at the level of poverty in Belize. However despite this there was a very relaxed and enjoyable vibe about the country. The hospitality of the people was very warm, with a high level of service and responsiveness. There is also a strong and healthy pride about their heritage, amazing Mayans ruins, and exquisite wildlife, birds, and jungles. Tourism is one of their main economic drivers, followed by production of sugar, bananas, and citrus. There is much to celebrate in Belize, and just go with the flow. Due to the hot and humid climate, I encourage a nice nap every afternoon in one of the many hammocks you find around the country.
