If you like the wine regions of Tuscany, then you will love Valle de Guadalupe in Mexico

Ah, Tuscany. The precise sanction whispers of sun-drenched afternoons, cypress-lined lanes and glasses of Chianti enjoyed al fresco. It’s the golden modular of vino travel, a imagination destination for oenophiles. But person you heard of a antithetic vino portion — 1 with the aforesaid soul-stirring landscapes and world-class nutrient and wine, close present successful Mexico, conscionable southbound of the U.S. border? 

Let maine present you to your caller favourite vino destination: Mexico’s Valle de Guadalupe.

No, this gorgeous vineyard country isn’t from Tuscany, but alternatively from Valle de Guadalupe. (Expedia)

It’s astir baffling that this stunning region, conscionable a 90-minute thrust from San Diego, isn’t connected each vino lover’s radar. Valle de Guadalupe has someway lone precocious started to look connected the tourer radar. 

This comparative anonymity is what I emotion astir it: There’s a casual, “come arsenic you are” benignant of vibe here, wherever apt to beryllium chatting with a winemaker arsenic you sip their award-winning creations. 

As portion of our bid wherever we showcase lesser-known corners of Mexico that rival world-famous wonders, this installment volition instrumentality you connected a travel to Baja’s vino region. 

If you’re captivated by the rustic elegance of Tuscany but crave a interaction of escapade and bohemian spirit, Valle de Guadalupe’s the spot to be.

Tuscany vs. Valle de Guadalupe: Some astonishing similarities

Luscious sangiovese grapes similar these marque immoderate of the finest wines successful Italy … and Mexico. (Facebook)

Tuscany, a portion steeped successful history, wherever each vineyard and vessel tells a story, needs small introduction. Some whitethorn accidental the examination betwixt the ancient, cypress-lined roads of Tuscany and the dusty, desert-like scenery of Baja California is simply a spot of a stretch, but look a small closer, and you’ll announcement galore striking parallels. 

Firstly, some regions stock a clime cleanable for increasing grapes. The long, sun-drenched days and cool, coastal breezes bring a refreshing salinity to Valle de Guadalupe’s wines. Just arsenic the Tyrrhenian Sea influences the Sangiovese grapes of Tuscany, the Pacific Ocean leaves its people connected the nebbiolo and tempranillo varietals thriving successful Valle de Guadalupe.

Both Tuscany and Valle de Guadalupe are location to passionate, multigenerational winemaking families who are profoundly connected to their land. In Valle de Guadalupe, you’ll find families who person been cultivating these valleys for generations, arsenic good arsenic a new question of innovative winemakers who are pushing boundaries.

And the food! Both regions are a foodie’s paradise, with a farm-to-table ethos that celebrates fresh, section ingredients. Just arsenic you’d find successful a rustic Tuscan trattoria, the culinary country successful Valle de Guadalupe is each astir showcasing the bounty of the land, from fresh-pressed olive oils to artisanal cheeses and, of course, the unthinkable seafood plucked consecutive from the adjacent Pacific.

The bosom of Mexico’s vino industry

Valle de Guadalupe is lone a 90-minute drive, and a scenic 1 astatine that, from the U.S. border. (Calandria Experience)

Wine has been made present since Jesuit priests planted the archetypal grapes successful 1791, with a important power from Russian Molokan immigrants successful the aboriginal 1900s who were fleeing spiritual persecution.

But successful the past fewer decades, the portion has genuinely travel into its own, experiencing a renaissance that has placed it connected the planetary vino map. What makes the “Valle,” arsenic it’s affectionately known, truthful breathtaking is the consciousness of growth. It’s a spot that’s inactive being written, a vino portion successful the thrilling throes of defining itself. Here, you’ll find a originative tone wherever winemakers aren’t acrophobic to experimentation with unconventional blends and techniques, resulting successful wines that are arsenic bold and expressive arsenic the scenery itself.

These days, Valle de Guadalupe is location to much than 200 wineries moving with everything from cabernet and merlot to lesser-known grapes similar nebbiolo and vermentino. Rolling vineyards capable the landscape, portion much and much wineries are creating artful surviving spaces connected their premises. You’re ne'er acold from a shaded patio oregon terrace wherever you tin sip section creations portion taking successful the presumption of the vineyards. 

How to get to Valle de Guadalupe and wherever to go

Valle de Guadalupe is acclaimed not lone for its wines but besides for its nutrient scene, with Michelin-star-awarded chefs similar Drew Deckman of Deckman’s en El Mogor. (Facebook)

One of the astir appealing aspects of Valle de Guadalupe is its accessibility. From Southern California, it’s an casual and incredibly scenic thrust down the Pacific coast. For those flying in, the nearest airdrome is successful Tijuana; the vale is simply a scenic 90-minute thrust done vineyard-dotted landscape. While you tin surely sojourn for a time trip, I highly urge spending astatine slightest a play to genuinely soak it each in. 

For a sensation of the region’s pioneering spirit, a sojourn to Monte Xanic, 1 of the oldest wineries successful the valley, is simply a must. Founder Hans Backoff helped to motorboat immoderate of Valle de Guadalupe’s archetypal forays into the vino industry. Now, 30 years later, his lad is taking Monte Xanic’s wines to a caller level. 

For a much rustic, off-the-grid experience, question retired La Lomita, a family-run winery with a profoundly creator attack to winemaking. And for a unsocial architectural marvel, you can’t miss Vena Cava, a hep winery with a ceiling built from reclaimed sportfishing boats from adjacent Ensenada. Tres Cantos has an eclectic abstraction that’s tastefully designed with esoteric architectural principles, utilizing recycled materials. Enjoy a tasting connected the backmost patio portion metallic ribbons flutter successful the vineyard. 

But the Valle is much than conscionable wineries. Have meal astatine the outdoor restaurant, Deckman’s en el Mogor, wherever Michelin-starred cook Drew Deckman cooks implicit an unfastened fire. It’s the Valle’s reply to a long, leisurely luncheon astatine a Tuscan agriturismo. 

Having graced the Latin America’s 50 Best Restaurants list, the legendary Fauna, led by cook David Castro, features a dynamic, experimental paper that changes based connected seasonal ingredients.

Baja vino region

Monte Xanic has been 1 of the benchmark vino producers of Valle de Guadalupe since it was founded successful 1987. (BLN Brands)

Are you acceptable to commercialized successful your Chianti for a Chenin Blanc with a Baja twist? While Tuscany volition ever clasp a peculiar spot successful my wine-loving heart, I volition ever get a thrill successful uncovering places that are inactive a small chaotic and unsmooth astir the edges. Valle de Guadalupe is precisely that — offering each the rustic charm, unthinkable food, and world-class vino of its Italian cousin, but with a rugged, cross-border civilization that is each its own. 

Nellie Huang is simply a self-proclaimed Mexico-holic. She’s the writer of Lonely Planet’s Mexico guidebook and has written hundreds of articles connected Mexico for assorted publications. Read astir her adventures worldwide connected wildjunket.com and travel her updates connected Instagram @wildjunket.