A place like Napa Valley exists, only the food and wine is much less expensive. Added bonus: it is only 90 minutes below the Mexican border in the region of Baja California, Mexico. Wine Masters and casual wine drinking afficiendos cannot get enough of this rustic hidden gem, which has been quietly thriving for the last 30 years. The restaurants are one of a kind and the local cuisine is truly special, so special that foodies come from near and far to experience the hospitality that Valle de Guadalupe serves up.
Hotels Nestled in the Hills
The region’s hotels will not scream, “Stay here!” as you drive by. Instead, they hide in the hills, around corners of well-maintained vineyards. Mexico has plenty of metropolitan cities that you can fly into, where accommodations are everywhere with bright lights, beaconing visitors. Valle de Guadalupe is different, and the hotels here are quietly proud and a lot of the times, eco-friendly, like Agua de Vid. This hotel is rare. It sits on an unassuming dirt road, and the staff are the most friendly you will ever come across. Other spots in the area like Encuentro Guadalupe, and Azul de Guadalupe are worth a look and are scattered, yet easy to find, as long as GPS came along for the trip.
Mouthwatering Food and Wine
Michelin-star chefs from noted North American restaurants like Per Se in New York, and French Laundry in Napa cannot stop raving about this region for the fresh ingredients and farm-to-table mentality. “They are some of the biggest stars in the celebrity chef universe, and in a rare celestial convergence this fall — two events, two weeks and about 86 miles apart — dozens of these celebrated culinary figures will be cooking in San Diego and Baja’s Valle de Guadalupe,” says Michele Parente about an event happening in Valle de Guadalupe this fall. After dining at Finca Altozano and enjoying Pulpo del Pacificos (Octopus from the Pacific) and of course, tacos, it was easy to see why there’s so much buzz about this region. The wine is succulent and fresh, clearly straight from the vineyard into the glass.
Equidistant to Ensenada and Rosarito
Wonderful restaurants and hotels are conveniently located between Rosarito and Ensenada, two gorgeous beach destinations, all on the picturesque coast, with the most friendly people. If time allows, make sure to take a scuba diving lesson. It’s just as colorful below as it is above the sea level. There are many instructors happy to take tourists on horseback down the beaches, as well. Not a fluent Spanish speaker? Don’t worry. The best thing to do is download the Google Translation app, and use it when needed.
It’s easiest to stay where is most comfortable, which perhaps is in your own country, but the benefits of exploring the Baja California region of Mexico is invaluable. The flavors and the sights outweigh any danger one might think they would encounter. Your taste buds and palate will thank you.