The varietals grown at Lechuza include Tempranillo, Merlot, Nebbiolo, and Cabernet. It’s a very popular wedding destination. There are many more vineyards that are noteworthy and we will continue to feature more. WHY: Hip, Eco-Friendly Vineyard With Unique Architecture From Recycled Materials. A reasonable lunch spot serving creative tacos and sandwiches. Website: https://decantosvinicola.com/, The Finca la Carrodilla winery was probably our favorite in the valley. He said now was the time to drive from San Diego to Ensenada and experience the Guadalupe Valley wine region before it got ruined. One-of-a-kind experiences, personalized travel & booking services available. With incredible wine, stunning property, and an award-winning restaurant, it is not hard to understand why this eco-friendly winery has been an absolute favorite since it opened in 2015. If you’re heading south of the border, here are our recommendations on where to stay in Valle de Guadalupe: This super modern and ultra-minimalist property is part hotel and part camping (yes, it is glamping). Keep an eye out for Merlot, the sweet cat who may visit you during your tasting. These prestigious wines are a true expression of Valle’s ability to grow exceptional grapes and produce world-class wine. The quality is excellent, but this is primarily driven by supply: a Guadalupe Valley winery is much smaller and produces smaller quantities, which keeps prices higher. With over 50 years making premium wine under his belt, Camillo Magoni has been nicknamed the OG of Valle by many. For what it’s worth, the entire time we were in line, the worthless app from the U.S. Government indicated a wait time of less than 2 hours and 15 minutes. Using only the best winemaking techniques and premium grapes, Winemaker Jesus Rivera has created award-winning red, white, and rose wines that are sure to impress. Wineries all have lots of space, so parking isn’t a problem. Dominican friars followed and began producing wine in 1843 in the area. Keep in mind that all vineyards and wineries are all noteworthy and listed in no particular order. Of course, many of those impressions are from the pre-NAFTA era. No trip to Valle de Guadalupe would be complete without a visit to where it all began. Getting to the Mexico wine country was easy. WHY: Grand Gold Medal Winner at the United Nations of Fine Wines. Driving back to San Diego was filled with lots of enthusiasm and excitement. This is reported to be the busiest international border crossing in the world. These limited hours mean you’ll want to plan carefully which wineries you want to visit. Let our CONCIERGE craft a personalized wine tour experience for you. WHY: Medieval Monastery Inspered Architecture. Lance Longwell is the co-founder of Travel Addicts. Lechuza wines are quite recognized and served in some of the finest restaurants, including French Laundry in Napa Valley. While the main draw for many of the Valle de Guadalupe wineries on this list are the views, food or ambiance, Casta de Vinos is known for it’s wine. We believe that good things come to those who wait (and wait we did). Guests appreciate the roofline of the property as it is both beautiful and functional. Most Catholic missions and their vineyards languished. The app was worthless. He told me the region was the new Napa without all the Silicon Valley money and entitlement. As one of the most visited wineries in Valle de Guadalupe, make Vena Cava one of your first stops. All that excitement ran headlong into the modern geopolitical realities: The San Ysidro Border Crossing. If you’re looking for something more mid-range, consider a vacation rental (see here for a great selection of vacation rental properties). Yes, you read that correctly. Even then, efforts at economic protectionism were not ultimately successful and the production of wine in Mexico continued. You’d expect the vineyards to be like Napa…but they aren’t. Website: https://cuatrocuatros.mx/en/. We really didn’t know what to expect from the Valle de Guadalupe vineyards. How much do wineries charge in Valle de Guadalupe? It was as if he was saying, “You’ll never guess what those Mexicans are trying to do now.” His words stuck with me. In short, this is perfect grape growing weather. There’s no finer place to stay. The music group Fountains of Wayne has a song called “Mexican Wine” about a person hitting rock bottom, not caring about anything in life, and drinking. The number of wineries has nearly doubled since 2014 with over 150 wineries in Baja Norte. Most wineries won’t open before 11:00am (some won’t open until noon or 1:00pm) and most close earlier than you might expect. I also remember my first trip to Tijuana, Mexico. If you are interested in learning more about wine, then be sure to take advantage of the El Cielo wine seminars and wine-blending course that allows guests a chance to produce their very own personalized bottle of wine. Still, it hasn’t been until the last ten years that Valle de Guadalupe’s wine has gained the attention of travelers and created a real buzz within the industry. We were high on the local wineries. WHY: Family Owned Vineyard With All Estate Grown Grapes. The local weather brings very hot, dry summers (mid-80s) and moderate, humid winters. From the time our car got into line at San Ysidro until we finally crossed the border was nearly 6 hours. Our goal was to visit the Valle de Guadalupe wineries in Baja, Mexico. The tasting room is a contemporary glass structure that creates curiosity in people driving by and draws visitors inside to check it out. The history of wine culture in Valle de Guadalupe is a fascinating one. This boutique hotel has traditional rooms, ultra-modern villas, lofts, suites and even a private chalet. Most have English speaking staff. The Valle de Guadalupe vineyards are what I imagine Napa Valley to have been like if I’d only discovered it 50 years ago. ravel news, event reminders, itineraries, invite-only experiences, insider tips, and EXPLORE VDG exclusives straight to your inbox. Looking like it is transported right out of Napa, Decantos is one of the fanciest wineries in the region. He has experimented with over 100 different varieties and has made a significant impact in the Mexican wine industry. The passion project of winemaker from Switzerland, it is part winery and part hippie commune. Visiting winery after winery, we were able to begin to come to some conclusions. He has visited all 50 of the United States as well as 70 countries on 5 continents – all in search of the world’s perfect sausage. 6 hours. Perhaps there would be some passable wines. At the foot of the mountains in the heart of Valle de Guadalupe, you will find seven hectares of vines that produced the wine that won the gold medal from the Brussels World Contest. WHY: Modern Tasting Room, Spacious Terrace, and Underground Cellar. If we knew what we were in for, we might have done something different (using the Tecate border crossing or different time of day). WHY: Family Owned and Operated Vineyard Producing with Exclusive Service. This unique winemaking process that holds true to conventional production while respecting all the raw materials used in the process. This makes the perfect place to stop for lunch and order a bottle of wine. Here a few recommendations for Guadalupe Valley restaurants: This is the very definition of street food. Despite the hassle provided by the U.S. Government, it was worth it. Website: http://www.fincalacarrodilla.mx/, Vitivinicola Emeve is one of the premier producers in the valley. Established in 2005, this winery sits among the beautiful rolling hills of Valle de Guadalupe. We’d heard horror stories of two hour waits to get across the border. Monte Xanic Experience tasting: $850 Pesos - Includes welcome drink, 4 wines, cheese board & water, Limited Experience tasting: $1,570 Pesos - Includes 3 limited wines & Gran Ricardo, tour, cheese board & water, Premium Tastings: $600 Pesos with 6-person reservation, Tastings: $300 - $600 Pesos (includes tour), Tastings: $170 (Young) - $550 (Premium) Pesos, Tours: $5 USD (goes towards scholarship fund), Tastings: $290 - $480 Pesos (different tastings). Complete your tasting experience inside or outside under a canopy made from recycled irrigation hose. The winemaker at Vinicola Emeve is from Chile, so the winery produces many varietals that are common to that area: Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz, and Chardonnay, as well as several blended wines. Their beautiful tasting room looks out on the vineyards and the hills of the valley and is located on one of the main roads in the valley. The tasting room is modern and bright, but it is the 200-year-old Encino tree that truly inspires guests to stay and extend their visit. The San Ysidro border crossing from Mexico into the United States is the busiest land border crossing in the world. Establishing a sustainable logic, the growth and harvest of the grapes are governed by the moon phases and the pulses of the environment. If you’re heading to the region, see our specific recommendations in the section below. There’s a small café on the property, which also looked amazing, but we didn’t have the chance to enjoy. In 1857, the Mexican government seized the land of the Catholic Church and booted them from the country. I learned some of the best young winemakers in the world were coming here from places like Napa, Spain, Chile, and Argentina. We were wrong. The recently remodeled tasting room is simple and ultra-modern, creating a chill atmosphere that offers excellent views of the property’s vines. By clicking SUBMIT you agree to our Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy. The classic hacienda-style architecture is beautiful, the gardens are incredibly relaxing, and the wines are fittingly named after archangels. The hotel sits in the valley and has great views of the surrounding hills. Enjoy distinctive, award-winning wines from Mr. Mario Villarreal and wine-maker Daniel Lonnberg. Sol y Barro focuses on red varietals. From experience, there are very few mid-range hotels in the area. Nearing Ensenada, the Ruta del Vino turns inland and quickly climbs elevation (following Mexico Highway 3). The different valleys that make up the wine region are Valle de Guadalupe, San Antonio de las Minas, Ojos Negros, Santo Tomás, San Vicente, La Grulla, Tanamá, Las Palmas y San Valentin. Despite the fact that Guadalupe Valley wine is not from Napa, expect to pay Napa-level prices. Times change. Like really expensive. Wine production didn’t really take off until the 1970s, when the are was replanted, a wine school was opened in 1972, and Mexican interest in wine took off. It’s absolutely worth a stop. Rooms at the Hotel Encuentro Guadalupe offer stunning views of the valley and put you right in the heart of the wine region. The well-known food truck, TROIKA, is located on the property and serves delicious Mexican gastropub food. 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