Dining should be at the top of your list for your Mexican wine country vacation. The wines are on the natural wine spectrum and are all quite interesting.Ī couple other winery favorites include Clos de Tres Cantos (for a visit with a philosopher/winemaker) and Vinos Melchum, which is housed at Hacienda Guadalupe, for fantastic wines in a gorgeous tasting room.įor Valle de Guadalupe, come for the food and stay for the wine. Bruma is a stunningly gorgeous property with an outdoor landscape and sunset viewing that is unmatched. Ask for Armando, as tasting with him is like tasting with the soul of Lechuza and the Valle.Ī visit to Bruma Winery should be your last wine tasting stop before dinner at Fauna (see below). There is a reason why Thomas Keller carries their wines at French Laundry….they are stellar. A trip to Valle de Guadalupe is not complete without a trip to Lechuza, in my book. His daughter and husband are now at the helm and carrying on his legacy through the vines. At the heart of Vinos Lechuza is a desire to honor the land and the community as well as farm sustainably.Įven after Ray’s sudden passing in 2017, that remains true. Not all weekend trips to Ensenada end in the purchasing of a farm, but for Ray and Patty Magnussen (the founders of Vinos Lechuza), it seemed like fate. Whatever your passion is: wine, beer, cuisine/food, relaxation, or adventure sports, Mariana will craft an itinerary second to none. Mariana aims to keep you comfortable all while sharing the beauty of Baja California. Mariana, who is half American and half Mexican, speaks English and Spanish perfectly and knows A LOT about wine, local history, and culture. Mariana of Tours by Mariana should be your first call when planning a trip to Mexican wine country. You’ll be taken care of and feel like royalty for a fraction of the price. Secondly, there are a lot of dirt and unpaved roads, uneven terrain, and potholes, which can be tricky.įor a stress free weekend in Mexican wine country, I strongly consider hiring a driver and tour guide. For one, the region is growing/changing so quickly, that all of your destinations might not be on Waze/GoogleMaps, which makes navigating a bit tricky. The downside to driving yourself is twofold. I’ve done it and it’s totally manageable and very safe. There are a couple ways to move around the Valle. The color palette of the Valle is in neutral/earthy tones from the desertscape, and most structures are built in integrity to that vibe. The fluidity between indoor/outdoor gives the entire region a natural, organic, and earthy rusticity that I find refreshing, compared to other established wine regions with manicured vines, McChateau tasting rooms, and fancy cars. In fact, many tasting rooms and restaurants are set outside or in an indoor space missing a wall or two. The entire Valle has a strong connection to nature and to the outdoors. Where else can you go and enjoy the Mexican flavor and hospitality that we all love BUT with the added bonus of a wine country backdrop? I’ll give you a hint. Valle de Guadalupe, Mexican wine country in Baja California is THE most exciting thing happening on the West Coast in wine.
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