Set in the northern Baja peninsula, Valle de Guadalupe is tucked in from the Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Cortéz, and hemmed by mountains on three sides. The valley cups the cool, ocean air drifting inland to form a Mediterranean microclimate—dry hot days, a firm afternoon breeze, cool nights—that makes Valle de Guadalupe a very good place to make wine. Indeed, this is Mexico’s wine country, home to over 150 wineries, and that same temperate microclimate that makes Valle de Guadalupe a very good place to make wine means it’s also a great place to visit year-round.
Valle de Guadalupe’s close proximity to the port of Ensenada and its fresh seafood, its hyperlocal produce, meats, and spectacular vistas combined with a deeply-rooted sense of community draws winemakers, chefs, architects, hoteliers, and visitors alike. There are lovely places to stay; and cool, personality-led pop-up dinners drawing in-the-know crowds from cities like LA and Tijuana. As the region continues to develop—with water in the region scarce at best and noise and sound pollution rising—an increasingly crucial conversation around sustainability parallels its growth. Responsible tourism plays an essential role in helping to ensure the integrity of Valle de Guadalupe lands remains for generations.
As a visitor, adopt a relaxed weekend mindset—no matter which days of the week you spend in Valle de Guadalupe. Dedicate your time to unhurried stops between wineries and restaurants; the evenings to resting under the stars. Should you be looking for a night out, head to Ensenada—a 20 minute or so drive—and don’t worry, we’ve included a few spots to help scratch that itch.
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Getting to Valle de Guadalupe
If you’re coming from the United States, Valle de Guadalupe sits about two hours south of San Diego, making it an accessible weekend trip from the San Diego or Los Angeles areas. Once past the border and through the traffic of Tijuana, the road opens into a postcard of a drive, best taken windows down for a salted breeze and unobstructed views of the Pacific glittering to your right. As you turn east and inland onto Route 3 (La Ruta del Vino) into Valle de Guadalupe, the landscape shifts to mountainous desert punctuated with rows of vineyards and olive tree groves.
What to do (and drink) in Valle de Guadalupe
It makes sense to drink wine in wine country, and that’s exactly what you come to Valle de Guadalupe to do. (A quick yet important note on drinking wine in Valle: if you don’t have a designated driver, you can hire a driver for the day—your hotel should be able to arrange this in advance.) With design-forward wineries, bottles that reflect the terroir, and an increasing slant toward organic, biodynamic, and low-intervention, deciding which vineyards and tasting rooms to visit during your stay has never been more challenging—or rewarding.
