Join Jules in Valle De Guadalupe
I love living in San Diego for many reasons, one of which is the city’s proximity to Mexico. Whether flying out of the Tijuana airport for easy access to places like Oaxaca or Mexico City, or just driving down the coast for a quick getaway, I’ve loved visiting (AKA eating, and drinking in…) Mexico since I’ve moved to San Diego!
Recently I did just that and took a short weekend trip to the Valle de Guadalupe. “The Valle” is just a couple hours south of San Diego, inland from Ensenada. It’s known as the top wine region in Mexico, with a booming food scene to boot. While I took this trip with my partner for a birthday celebration, the Valle is a great place to visit with friends and family in groups large or small!
Google Maps Valle de Guadalupe
Click the link below to take you to a Join Jules curated map of must-stop spots in Valle de Guadalupe
I’m not much of a morning person (especially on the weekends!), but I started the trip bright and early Saturday morning. Why, you ask? Well, I had to get to breakfast at La Cocina De Dona Esthela, and since they’re closed on Mondays and the rest of the weekend’s schedule was jam packed, it made the most sense just to start our trip there!
By the time we showed up at 9am, only an hour after they opened, the large restaurant was already overflowing. They don’t take reservations and fortunately with a small party of two the wait was only 20 or 30 minutes. The standout here was definitely the elote hotcakes. Super sweet and airy, this is a must when visiting Dona Esthela. I also tried the machaca which was very good, and I’ve been told the birria is fantastic, as well.
From there, I checked in at the Hotel Boutique Valle De Guadalupe. I hardly had time to drop my bags before heading over to the nearby Torres Allegre for the first tasting of the weekend.
I’m not sure if it was just the excitement of being our first winery visit in the Valle, but Torres Allegre might have been my favorite tasting of the weekend. Our host Vivianna was outstanding and told us all about their winemarker, Victor Torres Allegre, who studied in France and is one of the region’s most respected winemakers. The “Don Viko” Chenin Blanc was perfect for the hot weekend and I had to grab a bottle to bring home with me.
Next I stopped at the popular Vena Cava. I didn’t realize until driving upon the property that I’d visited this winery several years ago on a family trip. Edgar helped us out and was beyond friendly. I ended up snagging a bottle of the “Pet Nat” natural Sauv Blanc, which I promptly enjoyed Sunday night back at the hotel! Still full from Dona Esthela, I didn’t check out the Troika food truck that’s on-site, but I’ve heard it’s fantastic. Compared to Torres Allegre, Vena Cava was quite busy, and would be a fun place to taste with a large group.
My final (whew!) winery of the day was Finca La Carrodilla. The views (and pictures) here were absolutely stunning. Kevin was a great pourer and between the views, great weather, and solid music on the speakers, the vibes here were just fantastic.
After a quick pit stop (let’s be real, nap time) at the hotel, we had one more spot to hit before dinner which was the white lotus-esque restaurant called Oja. You truly come here for the vibes and of course a tasty cocktail, but it would be a really fun spot to bring your group for a really fun dinner filled with delicious sips, great music, and awesome vibes. After our little happy hour, I headed to the highly acclaimed Fauna for a much-anticipated dinner. Since it was my first time and a special occasion, I opted for the chef’s tasting menu with the wine pairings (truly, wine not). The food here lived up to the hype and was simply A+. Standouts included, but were not limited to: oysters (which I don’t typically enjoy), scallops, the braised lamb (probably my #1 favorite), and espresso martini pairing for dessert. It’s a ton of food, so just come hungry and enjoy!
After such an eventful Saturday, I spent the majority of Sunday relaxing at the spa at Hotel Boutique. Definitely recommend something like this in your itinerary, as back to back wine tastings in the sun can run you down a bit!
Of course, I couldn't sit at the hotel all day…so later in the afternoon, off I went. The first stop was a walk-in tasting at Lechuza, another winery with a great ambiance. We ended up snagging a few cans of their Nebbiolo which was fantastic.
From there, I had to make a stop at Bloodlust. This spot, opened just in 2022, is known for its onion (or cebolla) shaped architecture and fantastic cocktail and natural wine program. We sat at the bar with Geronimo, who, despite being new to bartending, served us up some fantastic cocktails. The small plates were also delicious, perfect for a between meals bite or small lunch. Bloodlust is a must stop in the Valle for any cocktail lovers.
From there, I made a quick trip to Ensenada (to keep it real, I needed some pesos for the toll roads home and couldn’t find a reliable ATM in the Valle). Fortunately, the quick drive allowed for a casual dinner (or more appropriately, taco tour). I’m a fish taco gal, and the fish and shrimp tacos at Tacos El Fenix were out of this world. I didn’t need to, but I’m happy that I did stop at Taqueria el Trailero to try the adobada and carne asada tacos and vampiros.
After a relaxing night back at the hotel with some wine bought along the way, it was time to cruise back up to San Diego the next morning. Anytime I’m driving to Rosarito or beyond, I make it a point to stop at the Hogar de Fuego Cafe to snag a cortado or latte and check out the fun and creative syrups they have on hand.
From there, thanks to my new Sentri pass, it was a quick drive across the border and I was back home in San Diego! While it’s great to be home, I can’t wait for my next quick trip south of the border!
Xoxo, cheers
Jules
Wineries:
Food:
La Cocina de Doña Esthela (for breakfast)
Fauna (for dinner)
Tacos Mi Ranchito El Fenix (tacos in Ensenada)
Taquería el Trailero (tacos in Ensenada)
Drinks:
Coffee:
Hogar de Fuego Café (closer to Rosarito)