Valle de Guadalupe Guide: Where to Stay, Eat, and Drink
Cedric Angeles
Alfredo Acosta, the owner of the luxe Baja resort Encuentro Guadalupe, loves welcoming visitors to the peninsula's Valle de Guadalupe. "People come here, and they're like, 'Wow, this is Mexico?'" That said, road signs in Valle are baffling, and GPS can be sketchy. (As local winemaking legend Hugo D'Acosta likes to say, "Good roads, bad tourists. Bad roads, good tourists.") One option: Hire a good tour guide. Baja Wine & Food is an excellent option. Here's where to stay, eat, and drink in the region.
Where to stay
Bruma
Local architect Alejandro D'Acosta's distinctive style — buildings that merge with the valley's landscape, utilizing found materials — is on display at this elegant resort. bruma.mx
Encuentro Guadalupe
Individual eco-lofts on a hillside above the valley floor offer both privacy and gorgeous views; if you're feeling flush, rent the grand three-bedroom villa. encuentrocollection.com
Cuatro Cuatros
This glamping option offers spacious tent-cabins with king- or queen-size beds and outdoor showers, fitting for a warm-weather visit. The dramatic bar overlooks the Pacific. cuatrocuatrosreservas.com
RELATED: 6 Must-Visit Restaurants in Mexican Wine Country
Where to eat
Finca Altozano and Animalón
Chef Javier Plascencia's live-fire cooking drives the menus at both Finca Altozano, his primary restaurant, and Animalón, a short walk away.
Lunario
Sonoran chef Sheyla Alvarado runs Lunario, the fine-dining restaurant at La Lomita Winery. The four- and six-course tasting menus change frequently, depending on what's in season.
La Cocina de Doña Esthela
Esthela Martínez Bueno started out with a tiny store selling potato chips and toothpaste; now people flock to her restaurant, La Cocina de Doña Esthela, for delicious Sinaloan cooking: machaca, borrego tatemado, and corn pancakes with honey.
RELATED: Embracing the Culinary Delights in Baja California Sur
Where to taste wine
Clos de Tres Cantos
With its pyramidal buildings and light passing through reclaimed wine-bottle walls, Clos de Tres Cantos feels like a monastery devoted to vino.
Villa Montefiori
Winemaker Paolo Paoloni's minimalist tasting room at Villa Montefiori pays homage to sweeping mountain views outside.
Casa Magoni
As chef Rick Bayless says, "Everyone reveres Camillo Magoni." The family-run Casa Magoni is one of the most recognizable wineries in the region.
Valle Food & Wine Festival
The annual Valle Food & Wine Festival, which usually takes place in October, is a great place to try a vast number of Valle wines.
Wines to buy
More and more Valle de Guadalupe wines are available in the U.S. To begin, seek out the following:
2013 L.A. Cetto Reserva Privada Nebbiolo - "The first Mexican wine I ever tried," Rick Bayless recalls. It's dark, fruity, and intense.
2017 Bodegas Henri Lurton Chenin Blanc - Lulú Martinez Ojeda is a Baja winemaking phenom. This succulent white shows why.
2017 Casa Magoni Chardonnay-Vermentino - A crisp, bright white blend from a master winemaker.
