Jalisco contains the largest share of tequila’s protected production area.
Jalisco is the historic heartland of tequila and contains the town of Tequila, whose name became attached to the spirit. It also includes many major production centers, agave-growing regions, distilleries, and visitor sites associated with tequila’s history.
Tequila’s denomination of origin extends beyond Jalisco into parts of other Mexican states, including Guanajuato, Michoacán, Nayarit, and Tamaulipas. However, Jalisco remains the dominant state by reputation and production presence.
The state is sometimes described simply as the place where tequila is made, but that wording is incomplete. Tequila can legally be produced in qualifying municipalities outside Jalisco, provided the product follows Mexico’s rules. Jalisco is the largest and best-known region, not the only permitted one.