Nº 04·Primavera 2026·Enoturismo del mundo hispano
Nº 01·Wine region·Valle de Guadalupe
Valle de Guadalupe sits in Baja California, 90 minutes south of Tijuana and 20 minutes north of Ensenada. It's the heart of Mexican wine country, producing around 70% of the country's wine. Jesuits planted the first vines in the 1700s, but the modern boom started in the 1980s when winemakers like Hugo D'Acosta proved the valley's Mediterranean climate could compete seriously with any other wine region. There are now over 150 wineries, from garage producers to large commercial operations. The style is eclectic: Cabernet Sauvignon and Nebbiolo dominate, but you'll find Tempranillo, Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc, and experiments with obscure varietals. What distinguishes the Valle from anywhere else isn't just the wine — it's the combination of winery and architecture. Places like Encuentro Guadalupe, La Lomita, and Bruma are design destinations as much as wineries. The food scene matches. Restaurants like Deckman's en el Mogor, Fauna and Animalón do "Baja Med": local ingredients (clams, yellowfin tuna, avocado, cilantro), refined technique, plenty of fire. It's one of the great moments in modern Mexican cooking, and seeing it in its natural setting — with valley wines alongside — is worth the trip alone. September kicks off the season with the Fiestas de la Vendimia. The mild months (March-May, September-November) are best for visiting; summer can easily exceed 35°C.
By Mateo Iriarte·Editor
Updated · May 3, 2026
Nº 01·Cities
Guadalupe ValleyNº 01
Ensenada is the gateway to Valle de Guadalupe, and it's probably the best base for Mexican wine tourism if you're coming from outside. A Baja California port city 110 km south of Tijuana, population 280,000, with the best food scene in northern Mexico. Most wine-tourism visitors stay here or in the Valle itself (30 km north). Fishing, wine, food — the three pillars.
Nº 02·Featured
Ensenada · Guadalupe ValleyNº 01
Casa Magoni is the personal project of Camillo Magoni, the Italian winemaker who spent 50 years making wine for L. A. Cetto and essentially shaped modern Valle de Guadalupe wine. Here he works with Mediterranean varietals adapted to the valley — fiano, vermentino, nebbiolo, montepulciano — along with the classic Californian grapes. The winery is modest, no pretense; the terrace restaurant overlooking the vineyard is one of the great lunches in the valley.
Nº 03·Wine routes
01
Ensenada → Valle de Guadalupe → San Antonio de las Minas
Length
35 km / 2 days
Ensenada · Guadalupe ValleyNº 02
La Lomita is one of the most respected wineries in Valle de Guadalupe among Mexican wine professionals. Designed by Sara Lucero, the architecture plays with the arid landscape and the valley's granite — stepped terraces, local materials. The range runs from Pagano (entry-level) to the Ardilla line (top), built around grenache, syrah, and cabernet sauvignon. The TrasLomita restaurant is among the finest kitchens in the valley.
Ensenada · Guadalupe ValleyNº 03
Monte Xanic was one of the wineries that kicked off the modern Mexican wine boom. Founded in 1987 by five partners (with Hugo D'Acosta as the original winemaker), it sits at the heart of Valle de Guadalupe. Produces varietals — Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Chenin Blanc — and premium blends like Gran Ricardo. Has won international awards consistently for decades and is the must-visit reference for anyone wanting to understand what Mexican wine is today. Visits include a vineyard walk, a four-wine tasting, and an option to add a paired lunch with valley views. If you're in the Valle for the first time, this is the winery to start with — it gives you the context everything else builds on.
Ensenada · Guadalupe ValleyNº 04
Vena Cava is probably the most photographed winery in Valle de Guadalupe — the main hall is built with old upturned boat hulls as the roof, supported by recycled wood framing. Phil and Eileen Gregory's project started in 2007 with a relaxed wine-porn philosophy and straightforward production. The range is accessible, the wines clean. The eco-lodge on the vineyard (La Villa del Valle) is one of the most popular accommodation options in the valley.