TalkBaja.com » Baja Mexico Forums » Baja Wine Tasting

I was treated yesterday to my first tour of the Guadalupe Valley wine region. It's a beautiful region with a lot of growth taking place. My guide knew a lot about grapes and vineyards so he was able to point out the good, the bad and the cosmetically-challenged areas. Some vineyards are better at designing their vineyards than others and the drip-irrigation used is a tad controversial among wine-makers. Some vineyards have built beautiful tasting rooms before their wines are truly worthy (it takes many years), the best wines seem to have the most humble guest offerings and tasting rooms. Many investors from Mexico City are buying large tracts of land for vineyards and have gorgeous mansions up already. In 15 years it could be what Napa is if they share their wine-making skills, continue to foster an atmosphere of quality and have a vision for growth.

What is needed most is to make the roadside attractions more attractive and reflecting of a wine region. Driving through the area it looks like any other small rural town in Mexico with it's dust and tire shops. It wouldn't take much to clean it up a little to reflect the gorgeous scenery and create a sense of arrival to the wine region. The Guadalupe Valley is one of the bright spots of Baja, but the first impression driving in needs some work. That's OK they have time. The vines are maturing, the wines from there are getting better every year and the wine tasting rooms and wine museum are all heading the region in the right direction. So long as the small towns along the route do some work to spiffy-up a bit- Baja will have a gem. Napa and Sonoma weren't always beautiful like they are today either. It takes time and planning.

(Here's why you don't drive in Baja at night... too much bull)


Due to limited time, this was our only stop to get out and walk around. The Hotel rooms are on the hillside and accessed by that winding path. Travel light!


The views, the views, the views... just beautiful:

We drive through there every time we head up to the States. I wish I liked wine, it would be a fun side trip.

I would be cool to stay in those hillside rooms though....

Originally Posted by BigWooo

We drive through there every time we head up to the States. I wish I liked wine, it would be a fun side trip.

I would be cool to stay in those hillside rooms though....

Here's their web-page: ENDEMICO

We really are falling in love with the area. My better half invited some friends along for a trip up a short while back. They had been there 15 years ago but were completely blown away by all the changes since then. It is definitely worth another look if you haven't been there in awhile.

I wonder where the water comes from? Wells I imagine, but if used for irrigation you might have to redriill fairly frequently.

Originally Posted by Uzun

I wonder where the water comes from? Wells I imagine, but if used for irrigation you might have to redriill fairly frequently.

A friend of mine is a master gardener and used to be the farm manager for Rancho La Puerta in Tecate. She said water is an issue all over in that area and anyone buying property needs to make sure their piece of land either has it, or water rights to water somewhere nearby

The beauty of this valley is one of the reasons we perfer the Tecate route with coming and going.
We had a friend that worked at Sordo Mundo, next door to the place you stayed. It looked like an interesting place, thanks for the view from the inside!