Mexico wine country: A foodie paradise and tastings

Wine lovers, listen up: There’s a little-known gem just south of the border called Valle de Guadalupe.

It’s a bit dustier and rougher around the edges than California’s prized Napa Valley, but Baja’s wine country offers a relaxed, unpretentious, budget-friendly experience clustered along a main highway in this region of Mexico known as the Ruta del Vino.

The fast-growing wine mecca just two hours south of San Diego is home to hip boutique hotels, an impressive culinary scene and more than 100 wineries to satisfy the most discerning of aficionados.

The greenest and busiest time to visit is May through September, but other months welcome serious connoisseurs looking for a quieter trip with more personal attention — often from the winemakers themselves. Add in a few crisp evenings spent sipping your favorite chardonnay by a fire pit and you’ve got yourself a memorable wine getaway with a fraction of the fuss.

___

SIP TIPS

Vinas de Garza: This romantic hilltop tasting room has some of the best views in the valley. Tastings range from $10-$16. Don’t leave without trying the Blanco del Rancho Mogorcito, a delightful sauvignon blanc-chardonnay blend that delivers bright, fruity, unoaked flavors ($17.10 per bottle).

Hacienda la Lomita: Family-run Lomita, and its biodynamic sister location, Finca La Carrodilla, are committed to organic farming. Lomita’s tiny, but trendy tasting room is known for its artsy ambiance and ruby red rose, a marshmallow and caramel flavored dream ($11.82 per bottle). Tastings range from $12-$21.

Villa Montefiori: Set back off the main road, Montefiori’s tasting room is a large viewing deck perched above its sprawling vineyard. They boast “Mexican wines with an Italian heart” with vines imported from owner Paolo Paoloni’s home country, Italy. Try a glass for $4, tastings range from $6-$24 and bottles run $16-$64.

Monte Xanic: This lakeside oasis is owned by a collective of Mexican families. It’s one of the largest, oldest and well-manicured properties in the area. The winery’s dry and fruity malbec ($37 per bottle) was a standout. Tastings are $10-$17 and bottles range from $12-$53.

___

FOOD FINDS

Come for the wine, but stay for the food. Valle de Guadalupe’s restaurants serve up artistic, creative haute cuisine with a more palatable price than a comparable meal stateside.

Finca Altozano: This rustic, Instagram-friendly, steakhouse whips up locally sourced, seasonal delights like wood-fired quall ($13.25) and ahi tuna tostadas ($5). The most memorable meal of the trip was Finca’s grilled pacific octopus ($8.75) in a mouth-watering citrus soy sauce. Don’t forget to check out the gorgeous grounds and the larger-than-life wine barrel viewing decks, perfect for stargazing with a nightcap.

Adobe Food Truck: For a casual lunch with outdoor seating, stop by this popular food truck serving sandwiches, salads and tapas. Many plates are $5 or less.

Deckman’s: Dine under the stars with an outdoor kitchen helmed by Michelin-starred chef Drew Deckman. The locally grown, farm-to-table fare includes Thai curry mussels ($12.75) and a five-course tasting menu for $39.80.

___

HIP HOTELS

Though gourmet food is a steal in Valle, expect fewer frills and pricier rates from the boutique hotels popping up throughout the area.

Villas Maglen: This newly built, centrally located hotel has six desert-chic villas grouped around fire pits, a small pool and an onsite restaurant.

Adobe Guadalupe: Explore the valley’s vineyards via horseback while staying in this stunning, hacienda-style hotel.

Encuentro Guadalupe: This unique property offers 22 modern, eco-friendly pods with sweeping vineyard views.

___

PLAN LIKE A PRO

You can fly into Tijuana Airport or cross the border by car. To drive, you’ll need a passport, a tourist card, also called an FMM (Forma Migratoria Multiple), and Mexican car insurance, which can be purchased in advance from a number of companies.

Visit on weekdays to avoid crowded tasting rooms and traffic jams at the border, but note that many wineries are only open Thursday-Sunday and most close by 5 p.m. You can check border wait times online.

Credit cards are widely accepted throughout Valle, but it may handy to pick up pesos before you arrive.

You can bring one liter of alcohol back per person, duty free, to the United States. Pay a small fee at the border for additional bottles. You’re allowed five liters per passenger when traveling by plane.

Wine not your thing? Check out bike rentals, zip lines, spas, horseback riding and ATV adventures or head to nearby Ensenada for fishing, watersports or a stroll through the touristy pier.

Want to explore Mexico Wines in Puerto Vallarta?

Attend a wine tasting at Uncork Mexico in Puerto Vallarta:

March 8th – Blind Wine Tasting Game

March 20th – Mexican Wine Tasting

March 21st – Pairing Mexican Wines & Cheeses

March 22nd – Blind Wine Tasting Game

March 27th – Pairing Mexican Wines & Cheeses

March 28th – Barolo, Barbaresco & Other Red Wines from Piedmont

March 29th – Pairing Mexican Wines and Cheeses

April 2nd – Brunello, Super Tuscans & Other Red Wines from Tuscany

April 3rd – Pairing Mexican Wines & Cheeses

April 4th – Pairing Mexican Wines & Cheeses

April 9th – Wines from Southern Italy (Campania, Sicily, and Sardinia)

April 10th – Mexican Wine Tasting

_____

Follow Nicole Evatt on Twitter at https://twitter.com/NicoleEvatt

Wine lovers, listen up: There’s a little-known gem just south of the border called Valle de Guadalupe.

It’s a bit dustier and . . .

Follow Us On Google News | Get Our Newsletter



Trending News on PVDN

  • protests3Mexico City Protests: There is a fine line between anti-gentrification and xenophobia The line between anti-gentrification and racism is clear if you choose to see it: genuine activism targets policy and practice, not nationality or ethnicity. I have lived in Mexico for two decades, and I have never witnessed the level of anti-American sentiment that exists today. All of it is tied to the buzzword "gentrification," a…
  • puerto vallarta lettersPuerto Vallarta needs a new image to create meaningful reasons for travelers to visit Business leaders at Jalisco Tourism Secretariat forums stressed the need for renewing Puerto Vallarta image and diversifying attractions to appeal to national and international markets. Local business leaders and tourism specialists agreed this week that Puerto Vallarta needs a fresh look and a broader range of attractions to compete at home and abroad. In a…
  • puerto-vallarta-police-chase-bahia-de-banderasPuerto Vallarta police chase ends in deadly collision in Bahía de Banderas A Puerto Vallarta police chase along Highway 200 ended in a deadly collision in Bahía de Banderas, leaving two people dead. A high-speed chase that began in Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, and ended in Bahía de Banderas, Nayarit, left at least two people dead and raised new questions about police engagement and road safety in the…
  • Where do foreigners come from and where do they live in MexicoMexico City Protest on July 5 Challenges Gentrification and Airbnb’s Impact on Housing Residents of Roma and Condesa will gather at Parque México on July 5 to protest gentrification, rising rents, and Airbnb’s effect on local housing. This Saturday, July 5, Mexico City will witness its first organized citizen protest against gentrification—a peaceful but urgent gathering taking place at 3:30 p.m. at the Lindbergh Forum in Parque México,…
  • puerto-vallarta-rainfall-hurricane-flossie-july-2025Puerto Vallarta braces for torrential rains as Hurricane Flossie gains strength Puerto Vallarta faces a high risk of flooding as Hurricane Flossie intensifies in the Pacific. Torrential rains and overwhelmed drainage systems pose major challenges for the city. Puerto Vallarta, a city wedged between the Sierra Madre mountains and the Pacific Ocean, is no stranger to dramatic weather shifts—but this summer, the skies are testing the…
  • protestProtest graffiti and smashed windows mars anti-gentrification rally in Mexico City Residents and activists joined an anti-gentrification rally in Mexico Park, but the anti-gentrification rally Mexico Park turned destructive as masked youths defaced local shops and broke windows. A rally against gentrification held yesterday in Mexico City’s Parque México drew residents from Juárez, Roma, Condesa and Hipódromo alongside local activists. Organizers billed it as the city’s…
  • Body with signs of crocodile attack found in Ameca River, a leg was found last monthPurple Flag Warns Beachgoers after Crocodile at Los Muertos Beach Authorities raised a purple flag after a crocodile at Los Muertos Beach was spotted swimming near shore, advising visitors to avoid entering the water until safety checks ended. Local authorities recorded a crocodile swimming in the vicinity of Los Muertos Beach, one of Puerto Vallarta’s busiest tourist spots. Lifeguards spotted the reptile in shallow water…
  • mexico city real estateGentrification in Mexico City is not the reason for the high cost of housing City housing shortage, not gentrification, drives prices skyward as planning lags behind demand and foreigner influence remains minimal. High real estate costs in Mexico City stem from a deep and persistent housing shortage—exacerbated by land constraints, tangled regulations and speculative investment—rather than by the presence of foreign residents. Despite headlines blaming “gentrification,” foreign-born residents make…
  • puerto vallarta loses three blue flag beachesPuerto Vallarta retains four Blue Flag Beaches, down from eight Puerto Vallarta will enter the 2025–2026 season with four international Blue Flag distinctions in Puerto Vallarta, even after tourism-driven environmental damage cost it half of its previous honors. The Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) in Mexico confirmed that three resort flags will be revalidated at Marriott Puerto Vallarta Resort & Spa, The Westin Resort &…
  • cancun-beaches-50-tons-sargassum-cleanupSargassum in Quintana Roo Hits 76 Beaches from Cancun to Tulum, Only 24 Clean Beaches Sargassum in Quintana Roo has reached moderate to excessive levels on 76 beaches—including Cancun—as cleanup crews race to protect tourism and coastal ecosystems. A recent survey from the Quintana Roo Sargassum Monitoring Network and the Sargassum Citizen Observatory shows 76 out of 100 beaches on the state’s Caribbean coast now face moderate to excessive seaweed…
Scroll to Top