The Valle de Guadalupe is a territory to immerse yourself in wine, its history and its flavors, aromas and colors. This guide is to help you get to know the most important wine region in Mexico.
1. Visit the Wine Route in Valle de Guadalupe
The Valle de Guadalupe, located between the municipalities of Tecate and Ensenada, north of the Mexican state of Baja California, is the fundamental wine-growing area of the country, with about 90% of the national wine production. The Wine Route is a kind of tourist pilgrimage that every visitor to the Baja California peninsula must do. Beautiful vineyards, wineries, tastings, restaurants and other attractions await you along any of its paths.
Read our guide on the 12 best wines from Valle de Guadalupe by making click here.
2. Visit the Museum of Vine and Wine
This museum located on the Tecate-Ensenada federal highway opened its doors in 2012 and is the only one in Mexico that covers the production of wine from the same vineyard. The exhibition takes the visitor from the historical origins of the vine to the past and present experience of Baja California in the manufacture of wine. If possible, it is advisable to visit it before starting the tour of the Wine Route, to have a good information bag and take better advantage of the tour.
3. Visit L.A. Cetto
It is one of the most traditional wine-growing houses in the Guadalupe Valley, located at kilometer 73.5 of the Tecate-Ensenada highway. It would be ideal if your visit coincided with the harvest season, since you could observe the harvesting, transport, unloading and pressing of the grapes. At any time of year you can admire the vineyards and the majestic barrels, as well as participate in a tasting well paired with some Mexican or international delicacy.
If you want to read the complete guide to L.A. Cetto click here.
4. Cava Las Animas de la Vid
In this cellar located in the municipality of Rosarito, at one of the entrances of the Wine Route, you will spend unforgettable moments, both for its cozy atmosphere and for its complete tastings, which include the house's nectar and the best wines of the valley. With so many good wines and delicacies such as cheeses, olives and cold meats, it doesn't cause you to leave Las Ánimas de la Vid.
5. The House of Doña Lupe
Doña Lupe is a Sonoran from the town of Badesi who settled in the Valle de Guadalupe, becoming a leader and promoter of the movement that favors the planting, manufacture and consumption of organic products. Its access is taken from Federal Highway No. 3, being the same road that goes to the Indigenous Community of San Antonio Nécua. The house offers its own wine, which it makes from a small organically managed vineyard, as well as other fresh and artisan products, such as olives, raisins, incense, jams, cheeses, honey, olive oil and sauces.
6. Mount Xanic
The name of this house comes from the language of the pre-Hispanic people Cora and means "flower that sprouts after the first rains." It does not rain much in Baja California, which is convenient for vines and wine, but Monte Xanic Winery It remains one of the oldest and most respected in the Valle de Guadalupe. It is located in the town of El Sauzal de Rodríguez in the municipality of Ensenada. Its vineyards are very well cared for and it also has a beautiful lake. They offer tasting and sale of wines.
7. Trevista Vineyards
This boutique winery takes great care of its vineyards to produce excellent wine. Its buildings and facilities are harmoniously integrated into the landscape, creating a calm and relaxing atmosphere that makes a visit an unforgettable experience. Their homemade food is the perfect complement to their wines. They also organize private celebrations and weddings. It is located in the plot No. 18 of Ejido El Porvenir, Valle de Guadalupe.
8. Las Nubes Wineries and Vineyards
The vineyard plantation began in Las Nubes in 2009 on a 12 hectare lot and today the vineyard has 30 hectares.
This growth has been underpinned by the quality of its vines, land and inputs and by the professionalism of its staff, trained to use the most efficient techniques and in tune with the environment.
The tour of the vineyard is guided by the house winemaker and they have a very comfortable terrace to taste the wines from their winery while observing the landscape. It is located in the ejido El Porvenir del Valle de Guadalupe.
To read our definitive guide to Las Nubes vineyard click here.
9. Baron Balché
The winery Baron Balché It offers its wines in three lines, the Young, the Intermediate and the Premium, highlighting in the latter the collection of the best vintages, which bears the name of the house. The cellar is underground and you can hold tastings and private events. During the Fiesta de la Vendimia, which takes place in the Valle de Guadalupe in August, Barón Blanché usually shines with special events, including a celebration with a large orchestra. The winery is located in the El Porvenir ejido, Valle de Guadalupe.
10. Alximia Vinícola
The owners of Alximia began in 2004 by making small batches of wine in the courtyard of the house and today they have striking facilities, in which the circular architecture of the production building stands out. The current offer is much larger than the 20 boxes of 2005, but the brand is still synonymous with quality and exclusivity. They work with Petit Verdot, Zinfandel, Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon, Tempranillo and Barbera varietals, and have a line of Elemental and a Premium wines, as well as whites and rosés. Alximia Vinícola is on the Camino Vecinal al Tigre, Km. 3, next to Rancho El Parral, Valle de Guadalupe.
11. Vinícola Xecue
The couple of owners were looking for a word that would represent their love as a couple and their passion for wine and chose Xecue, a term of Kiwi origin that means "love." Xecue started making artisanal wine in 1999 and in 2006 they built the winery. They offer a Young line, a Premium and a Feminine line (the Grenache pink). In the tasting room, apart from the wines, you can enjoy regional cheeses and artisan bread.
12. Solar Fortún
This family winery planted its first vines in 2007 and harvested its first grapes in 2010, so it is a project in full swing. The vines in the vineyard come from the French Mercier Nursery located in Napa Valley, California. One of the secrets of the house is the quality of the water at the La Cañada de Guadalupe site, with a very low level of mineral salts. The winery is available for weddings and events.
13. Viña de Garza
This beautiful place is located on the Wine Route, 30 kilometers from Ensenada. The Garza couple made their first vinification in 2006 and the 14 hectare vineyard currently has 9 in production and 5 in development. They work with 11 varietals and already have 10 labels between white and red. The tastings by appointment are with Premium wines and include personalized attention, talk and a visit to the cellar and tanks. They also offer walk-in tastings.
14. Valle de Guadalupe Hotels
The Valle de Guadalupe has a welcoming hotel offer, especially on the Wine Route. The Hacienda Guadalupe Hotel has clean facilities and a restaurant with a spectacular view. Terra del Valle Bed & Breakfast is an ecological establishment, with constructions in which environmental materials were used. Quinta María has the warmth of an attention provided by its own owners. Other options are Encuentro Guadalupe, Hotel Boutique Valle de Guadalupe and Hotel Mesón del Vino.
If you want to read the complete guide to the best hotels in Valle de Guadalupe click here.
15. Valle de Guadalupe Restaurants
If you go on a tasting plan, most of the calories you will need to consume in Valle de Guadalupe will come from the wine and the accompanying delicacies. Many wineries have restaurants for more formal meals and there are also stoves that are not wineries, but that offer the full range of valley wines and other drinks. Some of the most mentioned by tourists are La Cocina de Doña Esthela, Corazón de Tierra and Laja.
If you want to know which are the 12 best restaurants in Valle de Guadalupe click here.
16. Russian Community Museum
At the beginning of the 20th century, some 40 families of Russian settlers belonging to the Molokan religious cult settled in the Valle de Guadalupe, making a pioneering contribution to the agricultural development of the area. They were the initial nucleus of a small Russian community that today shows its cultural traits in this nice community museum opened in 1991 in a house built in 1905. You can taste some dishes of Russian cuisine in the museum's restaurant.
17. The Salto de Guadalupe
To vary a bit the tour of vineyards, wineries and tastings, a recommended place is the Salto de Guadalupe, a beautiful waterfall where you can recreate and take good photographs. The road to the jump is very pleasant due to the succession of ranches and picturesque points of sale of typical products. In the Salto de Guadalupe you can practice some entertainment such as climbing, descent and hiking.
18. Parque del Niño Zoo
The wine tastings are exquisite for adults but not for children. If your trip to Valle de Guadalupe is a family one, an excellent place to have fun with the children is this Ensenada zoo. The facilities are impeccable and the animals are very well cared for. It has a children's play area, a little train that runs through part of the park, pools and wading pools, pedal boats and a mechanical bull.
We hope that this guide has covered the informational needs for a pleasant visit to Valle de Guadalupe. See you at the next opportunity.
