Travel

Travel Guide: Mexico’s Valle De Guadalupe Wine Region

byTeam GM

7 years ago

We’re back today with an all-encompassing travel guide, courtesy of one of our favorite travel experts, Aida of Salt & Wind! This time, we’re heading south of the border to Baja California for some delicious dishes, and of course, some of the best wine-tasting in Mexico… Keep reading to learn everything you need to know about where to eat, stay, and play in Mexico’s wine country, followed by a must-try recipe inspired by the region from Aida herself…

All Encompassing Travel Guide to Mexico's Wine Country - Baja, California | GrayMalin.com

Hi, lovelies! Aida from Salt & Wind with another City Guide and travel-inspired recipe. Well, to be honest, this time it’s not so much a city that we’re talking about as much as the countryside. Specifically, wine country in Mexico. Yup, that’s right, Mexico has it’s own wine region and it’s very much worth visiting.

If you’ve been to the stretch of Mexico from Tijuana to Ensenada, you’ve literally been just over the hill from one of Mexico’s best kept secrets: its world-class wine country. Just a few minute drive inland from Ensenada is the Valle De Guadalupe aka the Ruta del Vino, and it’s home to more than 100 wineries.

Many consider the Valle de Guadalupe the “Next Napa” but we think that’s underselling it. Yes, this region is quickly developing world-class wines along the lines of what you’d find in Napa, but it’s also a totally different animal. The area has come into its own in the last decade, so it’s a mix of everything we love when we travel: high-end hotels and rustic country roads, interesting wines and good food, and great views and really awesome hospitality.

Here’s what to do and where to go on a day trip to Valle de Guadalupe:

Wine Tasting in Baja, California | The All Encompassing Travel Guide to Mexico's Wine Country on GrayMalin.com

HOW TO GET THERE

First things first. You need to know how to get there! The Valle de Guadalupe is just about 90 minutes from the San Diego-Tijuana border and you pretty much have to drive there. If you drive a car, make sure it’s off-road friendly because this rugged wine region still has many unpaved roads. Another option is to cross into Tijuana and then hire a cab or driver for the day. Or, you could travel with us because Salt & Wind is now doing 3 day, highly-curated, small group trips to the Baja.

WHERE TO WINE TASTE

Wine Tasting in Baja, California | The All Encompassing Travel Guide to Mexico's Wine Country on GrayMalin.com

The most exciting thing about this region is that it’s sort of a Wild West of wine. Because there aren’t as many regulations on wine making in the Valle de Guadalupe as there would be in, say, France, the wine makers can experiment with interesting wines.

Monte Xanic

Even if you don’t like wine, you have to go here for the view. Though they have a thoroughly modern tasting room, Monte Xanic is one of the older wineries in the Valle. We’re partial to their award-winning whites and their reserve reds.

The All Encompassing Travel Guide to Baja, California via Salt and Wind | GrayMalin.com

Villa Montefiori

Like a taste of Italy in Mexico, Villa Montefiori focuses on growing and bottling Italian varietals. Their Nebbiolo and Barolo are what they’re known for, but it’s hard to go wrong with their reds.

La Lomita

Set on top a little hill (aka a lomita), this winery is the type of place we could see ourselves starting were we to become wine makers. Be sure to do a full wine tasting (and ask for a barrel tasting if they’ll give it to you)—the rose and the whites are our favorites!

WHERE TO STAY

The high season in the Valle is in the summer, when tourists from across Mexico come in for a weekend away. You’ll find the best rates by visiting during the weekdays or in the shoulder seasons (basically Spring and Fall).

Where to do, eat, and see in Mexico's Wine Country | Travel Guide on GrayMalin.com

Encuentro Guadalupe

When it comes to name recognition, Encuentro Guadalupe has it. This industrial chic hotel was designed by one of the country’s top architects and is a total stunner. Made up of “pods” or studio rooms that dot the rugged hillside, it’s a bit off the grid so it’s perfect for couples trying to get away from it all.

The All Encompassing Travel Guide to Mexico's Wine Country | GrayMalin.com

Finca La Divina

Think of this place like a really nice Airbnb in wine country except owned by famed local chef, Javier Plascencia. The hacienda-style house has three rooms off an enormous kitchen and a quaint casita off to the side. It’s the perfect place to buy out so you can do a group trip with about 6 to 8 of your nearest and dearest.

Cuatro Cuatros

If “glamping” is more your speed, then head to Cuatro Cuatros. Made up of 14 spacious, high-end tents nestled among vineyards (all with A/C, heating and WiFi, FYI), this place is the perfect mix of high and low. And the cliff-side bar has one of the best views in the region!

WHERE TO EAT

![Where to eat, stay, and play in Mexico's Wine Country, Baja California | GrayMalin.com](https://res.cloudinary.com/gray-malin/image/fetch/c_scale,q_50,w_2040/https://res.cloudinary.com/gray-malin/image/upload/gray-malin/blog-uploads/Baja California Produce.jpeg-vKtrMgs?ixlib=rails-2.1.3)

We could write a mile-long list on where to eat in Valle—bottom line is there’s a lot of good food and it’s hard to go wrong. Here are a few places to get a taste of the area:

The All Encompassing Travel Guide to Baja, California | GrayMalin.com

Deckman’s en El Mogor

There’s a lot of noteworthy fine dining in the Valle but one everyone agrees is worth it is Deckman’s en El Mogor. This al fresco spot is set amongst a grove of olive trees and everything is cooked over an open wood fire, which means smoky, well-executed flavors that pair beautifully with the wines from adjacent El Mogor winery.

The All Encompassing Travel Guide to Mexico's Wine Country | GrayMalin.com The All Encompassing Travel Guide to Mexico's Wine Country | Salt and Wind on GrayMalin.com

Finca Altozano

This festive alfresco spot is worth a stop just for the Instagram-worthy life-sized wine barrels. But the reality is the food is well worth it too. Owned by famed local chef, Javier Plascencia, the food rides that line of comforting rustic chic with everything from teeny octopus tostada bites to addictive duck tacos.

The All Encompassing Travel Guide to Mexico's Wine Country | GrayMalin.com

Troika Food Truck

Throughout the valley, there are a handful of food trucks, which are pretty much a perfect pit stop if you’re not interested in a sit down meal. Despite its Russian name (named so because the region used to be home to many Russian immigrants), Troika serves up decidedly Baja food as in tostadas, sliders, and lots of fresh seafood and slow-cooked meats. For a pretty perfect lunch, you can grab a glass of wine at the Vena Cava winery next door and chill next to the property’s pond.

INSPIRED EATS

This region of Mexico is way younger than other parts of the country and that goes for the food as well. There are all sorts of must-eat dishes in Baja California but we’re partial to the seafood. From street food vendors to high-end restaurants, there’s a mix of seriously fresh seafood from sea urchin to octopus and tons of oysters.

Aguachile Verde Recipe {Chile Lime Marinated Shrimp} and Travel Guide to Mexico's Wine Country | GrayMalin.com

One dish we dream of is Aguachile (a sort of Northern Mexican ceviche). Technically this dish is from the neighboring state of Sinaloa but the many immigrants from that region have brought the recipe with them and you can now find versions of it everywhere. When we can get super fresh shrimp, we like to make this herby, spicy, and refreshing {Aguachile Verde} or Chile Lime Marinated Shrimp recipe. It’s ridiculously simple to make and has us instantly dreaming of Mexico!

TRAVEL WITH US TO BAJA!

3-Day Trips to Mexico's Wine Country with Salt and Wind | Travel Guide on GrayMalin.com

In case you hadn’t noticed, we’re totally smitten with the Valle de Guadalupe and hope you are too! That’s why we’ve started small group tours to Baja California and we’d love to have you join. Hope to see you there!

We can’t thank Aida enough for yet another amazing travel guide to a must-visit destination! Looks like our next stop will undoubtedly be Baja California… Who’s with us?

To see more travel tips and globally inspired recipes, head to Salt and Wind or follow along with Aida on Instagram.

Xx Team GM

Photos: Salt & Wind