Looking for the best Valle de Guadalupe wineries to visit on your next trip? You’ve come to the right place.
Wine tasting is a must-do activity when visiting Valle de Guadalupe. After all, this up-and-coming wine region located in Baja California, Mexico produces roughly 80% of all Mexico wines. It is the perfect place to explore the wines of Mexico as it is only about 90 miles south of the US-Mexico border within a 2 hours drive from San Diego, CA.
If you are planning a wine-tasting getaway across the border to Mexican wine country, don’t miss these 10 amazing Valle de Guadalupe wineries.
A brief history Winemaking in Valle de Guadalupe
Winemaking in Baja, Mexico dates back to 1683 when Spanish missionaries first introduced grapevines to the area, planting vineyards or viñedos for the production of sacramental wine. However, it wasn’t until the 1980s that the region started to gain popularity for its wines.
In the early 2000s, Valle de Guadalupe began to attract attention from both local and international wine enthusiasts. With a Mediterranean climate, rocky soils, and a coastal breeze, the region proved to be an ideal place to grow many grape varieties, including Nebbiolo, Tempranillo, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Syrah.
Today, Valle de Guadalupe is home to close to 200 wineries, ranging from small, family-owned operations to large commercial wineries.
Best time to visit Valle de Guadalupe wineries
Summer is the most popular time for wine tasting in Valle de Guadalupe. However, it’s also one of the hottest times to visit. Expect temperatures to reach 110 to 120 degrees Fahrenheit during the day. You should also expect large crowds at tasting rooms.
If you’re looking for more temperate weather we recommend visiting in spring or fall. The days are more mild, but still pleasant (70 to 90 degrees), and the nights cool off quickly. The vines are harvested starting in June and finished in September.
What to expect from Valle de Guadalupe wine tasting
This region is known for its innovative and natural winemaking techniques. It’s also known for its use of organic and biodynamic farming. If you’ve never tasted natural wines before it can be an odd experience at first. Many of the wines will have a cloudy color to them from being unfiltered. You may also notice a slight sour bite to the wine from the natural yeast.
Natural wines personally reminded us of kombucha. Some natural wines are tastier than others. But nearly all vineyards will have a natural line and a more traditional line of wines that will be in line with wines you’ve tasted from other countries and regions.
Most vineyards are open during the daytime only from 10 or 11 am to 3 or 5 pm. Make sure to check the hours before visiting. The weekends (Thursday through Monday) are the most popular times for visitors to go wine tasting. If you come on the weekend we highly recommend making reservations. Some vineyards operate on reservations only. So make sure to check their website before going.
Most Valle de Guadalupe wineries charge for a wine tasting regardless if you buy a bottle or case of wine. Expect to pay $15 to $35+ USD per tasting. To keep costs down, Dennis and I would split our tastings and then buy a bottle of our favorite wine to go, which is totally acceptable here.
It’s also worth noting that the roads to most of these wineries will be unpaved and likely in poor condition. If you’re looking for more information on how to get around and where to stay, make sure to check out this post.
Top Valle de Guadalupe wineries
Below you will find 10 of the best Valle de Guadalupe wineries to visit in this region of Baja California Mexico. Given the massive number of wineries to visit here, this list is only touching the surface. With that being said, it is a fantastic place to start and will ensure you’re getting a top-notch wine-tasting experience on your vacation.
1. Casa de Piedra
Casa de Piedra means “House of Stone”. This boutique winery was founded in 1997 by Hugo D’Acosta, who is widely regarded as one of Mexico’s most influential winemakers in Valle de Guadalupe.
Known for producing natural and organic wines, Casa de Piedra focuses on quality rather than quantity. Bubbly lovers will delight in their sparkling wine made using the traditional méthode champenoise. Their onsite restaurant, Conchas de Piedra, pairs local shellfish with their sparkling wines. Reservations for wine tasting and the restaurant are recommended. A guided wine tasting will cost about 300 – 500 MXN pesos per person.
2. Vena Cava
Vena Cava is an innovative natural winery founded in 2004. The wine cellar and tasting room are housed in a repurposed boat storage facility and are built using salvaged materials, giving it a rustic, industrial feel. Make sure to look at the ceilings which are the interior of old boats.
Known for its small-batch natural wines Vena Cava has a hip laid back vibe and is definitely worth a visit. Taste their funky skin contact white wines for something different. Don’t forget to grab a bite at Troika, the food truck on site (and one of our top recommendations for places to eat in Valle de Guadalupe). Reservations for a wine tasting are required and will cost about $150 – $230 MXN pesos per person.
3. Finca la Carrodilla
Finca La Carrodilla is the only biodynamic winery in Valle de Guadalupe, named for the patron saint of winemakers. Founded in 2011, Carrodilla offers wine tastings of their organic wines served with homemade bread and cheese from their rooftop patio which offers gorgeous views of the Valle de Guadalupe. This is seriously one of the prettiest patios and views in the entire Valle.
Try their single varietal wine like the Syrah. Reservations are recommended and you can expect to pay $200 – $400 MXN pesos per person for a tasting.
4. Bodega Magoni
Winemaker Camillo Magoni has been making wine in the Valle de Guadalupe for over 50 years, starting his career as the head winemaker at L.A. Cetto when there were few wineries in Valle de Guadalupe. Given his importance to this region, this is one of the most popular wineries in the area.
Request to have your wine tasting at Bodega Magoni under the massive 200-year-old oak tree on the property. With a focus on Italian grape varietals, you can’t go wrong with their stunner Nebbiolo, aged 15 – 20 months in oak with floral notes, blackberries, and spice. Walk-ins are welcome and a wine tasting will run about $150-250 MXN pesos per person.
5. Vinos Pijoan
Vinos Pijoan is a boutique Baja winery started in 2002 by Pau Pijoan, a veterinarian of Spanish heritage. Vinos Pijoan’s slogan is “honest” wines. Expect to be greeted by lovable rescue dogs once you enter the property on a patio that feels more like someone’s home than a winery.
Enjoy a wine tasting on the covered patio overlooking the vineyard and try their Bordeaux-style blend called Lenora made with cabernet sauvignon, syrah, and merlot which is aged 18 months in a barrel. Finish your tasting with a refreshing digestivo made from red wine and local herbs and aromatics grown on the property. A tasting will cost $300 – $450 MXN pesos per person.
6. Hilo Negro
Hilo Negro means “black thread” and refers to the thread of life that moves through everything. Hilo Negro is a new award-winning winery in Valle de Guadalupe. The modern architecture of steel, glass, and concrete will surely impress upon arrival.
Hilo Negro makes a variety of bold red wines but the white wine, called Invisible, is a sauvignon blanc & viognier blend that even red wine drinkers will enjoy. We did a walk-in tasting here, but on the weekends it gets busy. Call ahead to make reservations and a wine tasting will cost $300 MXN pesos per person.
7. Las Nubes
Las Nubes might have the most stunning views of the surrounding hills and mountains of Valle de Guadalupe. Using sustainable winemaking practices like using reclaimed water, and protecting the environment is important to Las Nubes.
Offering both young, fresh accessible wines and aged reserve wines, Las Nubes has a Mexican wine for every palate. Reservations are required on Saturdays and a tasting will run you $300 MXN pesos per person.
8. Cavas del Mogor
Cavas del Mogor might look small and unassuming, housed in an old stone house tucked away behind the famous Deckman’s restaurant. But here, small is beautiful. Started by the Mogor-Badan family of Swiss-French heritage in the 1950s, their daughter Natalia Badan is now the stewardess of this organic winery and garden.
This spot is easily one of the best Valle de Guadalupe wineries. Their small production and sustainably minded practice are what center their winemaking philosophy. A full tasting consists of only 4 wines and includes a tour of their production floor and barrel aging cellar.
The Chasselas del Mogor, a white wine made from a grape usually only found in Switzerland, is an interesting and tasty diversion from other wines encountered in Valle de Guadalupe. Reservations are required but can be made at the gate and a tasting will cost $200 MXN pesos per person.
9. La Lomita
Lomita is the sister winery of Finca la Carrodilla, making organic wines from their estate vineyard which happens to be just a short walk down the road from El Valle RV Park and the award-winning breakfast spot, La Cocina de Doña Esthela.
The winery at Lomita is particularly beautiful with its artistic murals wrapping around the walls and views of the vineyard and surrounding hills.
Interestingly, Lomita uses gravity flow during their winemaking process which is on display in their multilevel tasting room area which through a large hole in the ground reveals the production area underneath.
Taste their flagship wines, Pagano, a smooth Grenache wine with surprisingly high alcohol content, and Sacro, a classic Bordeaux blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Reservations are required and a tasting will cost $200 – $350 MXN pesos per person
10. Mina Penelope
As you drive from the Pacific coast towards Valle de Guadalupe, the first vineyard you will likely encounter is Viñedos Mina Penelope. Woman-owned and operated since opening in 2014, Mina Penelope is an organic and sustainable vineyard making some of the best wine in Valle de Guadalupe.
Their vines grow on slopes reminiscent of European vineyards and are dry farmed meaning no irrigation is used. This stress put on the vines can actually increase and enhance the flavor of the grapes. Enjoy a bright and refreshing Grenache rose on a hot day or their red blend, Julio 14, a smooth and complex Syrah-Grenache-Mourvedre that pairs well with just about anything.
You can taste their wine in the vineyard or better yet, buy a bottle or two to drink with dinner at their onsite restaurant, Malva, a gastronomic experience worth splurging on!
These are the top 10 wineries of many that are worth visiting in Valle de Guadalupe. Each winery has its own unique charm and offers visitors a chance to taste some of the best wines in Baja Mexico. But with this list, your trip to Mexican wine country is sure to be one you will never forget.
