Beautiful, magical Guadalupe Valley – “the Valle” to those in the know – is a retreat for dreamers and artists located less than two hours south of San Diego in the desert of the Baja peninsula. The wine oasis offers up spectacular rolling hills of vineyards, gorgeous architecture, food that blends subtlety with sophistication, and, of course, a lot of wine. It’s been called the Napa of Mexico, but the drastic water shortage has kept the region from growing too fast. While the vineyards have nearly perfected their wine making techniques, Vale de Guadalupe still holds a quiet, undiscovered charm.
The view from Finca la Carrodilla
But first, you have to get there.
The simplest way to get to Valle de Guadalupe is to drive. It is less than two hours drive from the border. I recommend using the Tijuana/San Ysidro border crossing to get there, driving down along the toll road with views of the coast. You’ll cut inland after Ensenada and start winding upward to wine country. If you don’t have Sentri on your car, drive back using the Tecate or Otay Mesa border crossings. Traditionally they have much shorter waits and you can drive on the inland road from Guadalupe, making it a fairly straight shot.
Agua di Vid
Suggested Spots:
Situated in the northern part of the Valle, Agua de Vid is a boutique hotel that combines modern industrial design with an eco-friendly ethos. Sit on your own private porch and watch the sunset, or cozy up at the rooftop bar. The best part of Agua de Vid is that they manage to merge sustainability and design to create a beautiful experience. Wine bottles are carved into water glasses. Since they recycle shower water, Agua de Vid offers up environmentally safe shower products in reusable glass jars. Both the cabins and the three-story main building show a dedication to design and detail, with modern artwork, striking tile designs, and industrial lighting.
Sweet Corn with Pork and Poblano at Once Pueblos
Check out Once Pueblos for Michoacan-inspired flavors by Chef Sandra Vasques. She celebrates traditional cooking techniques with a modern twist, using seasonable Baja ingredients. One extraordinary example is the Sopa de Corunda, an earth tomato soup containing a tamal sprinkled with vegetable ash, to commemorate a return to the earth as ash after death. It might be morbid if it wasn’t so delicious! Also noteworthy was the layered sweet corn with pork and poblano (pictured above). They offer up perfect Guadalupe wine pairings to their dishes, including a stunning Vinos Martlot Ilusión de Amor that I wasn’t able to find anywhere else. The stunning property is set on top of a hill with spectacular 360-degree views of the valley.
Top Taste: Vinos Martlot Ilusión de Amor
The Cellar at Clos de Tres Cantos
Valle de Guadalupe is home to more than 200 wineries so you have plenty of choices where to sip. For a dose of mystery with your wine, visit Clos de Tres Cantos. The walls are handcrafted with used wine bottles, illuminated by sunlight to create a stained glass effect. While most wineries in Guadalupe lean towards modern industrial design, Clos de Tres Cantos sets itself apart with an old world feel. Try their Carignan, Grenache, Mourvedre, Petite Syrah, and Tempranillo wines before venturing down into their solumn wine cellar.
Top Taste: Mourvedre
With an impressive forty-thousand vine plants, Finca la Carrodilla offers quality wine created with ecologically-friendly methods; they were the first to hold an organic certification. Taking advantage of the beautiful vistas, sip your wine in the relaxing upstairs terrace garden shaded by solar panels. La Carrodilla has 4 single varietal wines (Chenin Blanc, Shiraz, Cabernet and Tempranillo), a young red (mixture of the 3 red varietals) and a premium wine (Bordeaux blend). The owners also own nearby gem Hacienda La Lomita.
Top Taste: Arbol at Finca la Carrodilla
Top Taste: Tinto de la Hacienda at Hacienda La Lomita
Monte Xanic is one of the better known producers in the region, with an impressive tasting room. Drive past the intimidating guard gate, past an entrance of thick ropes to an outdoor tasting room with fire pits and vineyard views.
Top Taste: Calixa Blend
Agua di Vid at Night
The exchange rate is currently favorable at about 19 pesos to the dollar, so stock up on a couple bottles before heading home. You are only allowed to bring two bottles of wine back across the border per person, so choose wisely!
Where are your favorite places to eat, drink, and sleep in Guadalupe? Comment below or let me know at Michelle@EatDrinkBeSD.com!
Photo credits: Crave Imagery.
