Winemaker

Karina Abad Rojas

Discipline: Winemaker
Based in: Santiago Matatlán, Mexico
Venue: Los Danzantes · Winery

i. Biography

Karina Abad Rojas has been part of the backbone of Los Danzantes in Santiago Matatlán, Oaxaca, Mexico, since 2009, where mezcalera work has meant moving through production with consistency, discipline, and attention to process. The work here is not showy; it sits in the practical layers of the house, from production leadership to distillery expansion to the often invisible support needed for export certification. In Karina Abad Rojas, those duties meet the same standard: raw material handled into finished mezcal through exacting, repeatable craft.

The Climb

She oversees sourcing and bottling mezcalero releases of Craft Distillers, keeping each stage aligned from material decisions through final presentation. She also works as a distiller under the Los Nahuales special edition label of Los Nahuales, where process has to hold alongside the distinct character of each release. The scope of that work reflects a career built around making the system function as carefully as the product itself.

Today

Export certification support is part of the same craft discipline for Karina Abad Rojas. Working closely with small producers on the paperwork means dealing in precision, patience, and the practical requirements that move mezcal beyond the palenque. It is less visible than production, but it is part of the same chain of responsibility: the bottle only moves because the technical work has been done correctly.

Career - head of production and mezcalera — Los Danzantes, Santiago Matalan, Oaxaca (2009–present) - sourcing and bottling Mezcalero releases — Craft Distillers - distiller under the Los Nahuales Special Edition label — Los Nahuales

Signature

Karina's signature wines include Los Nahuales “Still Proof” Jabali & Espadin, Los Danzantes (Los Nahuales) Pechuga, Los Nahuales Special Edition No. 4, Los Nahuales “Still Proof” Tobala, and Los Nahuales Special Edition No. 3. Taken together, these releases map the range of her production work: the Still Proof bottlings, the special editions, and the shared imprint of Los Danzantes and Los Nahuales across the lineup. The list points to a single strength—holding technical detail and expressive character in the same frame.

Recognition

The public record around Karina Abad Rojas is tied to function rather than flourish: mezcalera, head of production, and export-certification support. Those credits describe a career built on sustained responsibility, where the work is judged by the integrity of the process and the steadiness of the result.

FAQ What is Karina Abad Rojas known for? Karina Abad Rojas is known for leading production and working as mezcalera at Los Danzantes in Santiago Matatlán since 2009. What are Karina Abad Rojas's most notable roles? Her notable roles include head of production and mezcalera, as well as export-certification support.