BTK exceeded expectations. I could tell from how attentive Chris was when we booked our trip, but the experience was more remarkable than could be imagined. Chris is highly knowledgable and organized. He is also well connected in the community so you get access to wineries and owners that you would otherwise not have. He is generous with his expertise and provides an impressive educational experience. The BTK experience is great for anyone...a first time visitor or someone who knows wine and the valley because Chris personalizes the experience. We took the all-day tour that included lunch for $179 and it was worth every cent. We took ourselves on an excursion the next day and definitely felt Chris's absence as we got lost several times and were limited in what we could do and what we could learn from the experience. I look forward to booking our next trip. read more

Baja Test Kitchen - Finca Altozano - Food Tours Near Me - San Diego, California

Almost 50 years ago when I was very young, my father started taking the family across the Golden Gate bridge, up into Sonoma to go to wineries that were far off the beaten path. His motto was always "Give me a couple of wine barrels, a wooden plank over them, two old Italian guys and a couple of yeller dogs, and that is my idea of a tasting room". Well, the Valle de Guadalupe has some spots that are near as up scale as current Napa and Sonoma. But WAY off the beaten path and with the same kind of charm and passion that wine making seemed to have in the pioneering days of mid-century Northern California. Having been on lots of wine tours and tastings, it isn't often I find I learn a lot about wine making and its history. Chris, part owner of BTK, was our tour-guide and did a marvelous job of talking about the history of the valley, growing conditions, wine makers, local history that influenced wine making technology, etc. I found I learned a lot; in part because Chis is a very engaging story teller. The best part was the wine and the wine makers. We were VERY pleasantly surprised at the quality of the wines we tasted. Eleven wines total at two incredible wine making facilities, and every one a winner! Wish we could have taken home a lot more than we did. We had the good fortune of meeting the owners of Vena Cava, who clearly enjoy people and love their craft and the local industry they are building. The 2012 Reserve is easily one of the best wines I've ever had. And the winery is...well...unique, with a great story. Chris and Jen, thank you for a wonderful day. We are already thinking about how we work BTK into future vacations. Clearly you guys enjoy what you do and have a great talent for your work. read more

Our culinary and wine tour with Chris lived up to the hype! Everything was so well organized and Chris was an incredible tour guide!!! The wineries, food and tapas were all excellent and the wineries themselves were beautiful! We felt like VIPs at all the wineries and I couldn't choose one favorite since I liked them all! Can't wait to try other tours with Baja Test Kitchen! Thank you Chris for making my birthday trip a very memorable one!! Highly recommend!!!! read more

See all

My mother & I did a private tour with Jen & Chris and were BEYOND impressed. Their selections for our itinerary, the relationships they have with everywhere we went, and their knowledge of the Valle far exceeded our expectations. We tasted some of the best wine with the owners of the wineries themselves, dined on fresh and innovative cuisine, and overall just enjoyed each other's company. As a Travel Advisor, I would recommend Baja Test Kitchen to any of my clients in a heartbeat and have full confidence that they would have the best time. Although we did a private tour, I would love to try one of their public tours that leaves from the San Ysidro border sometime - there have such a wide variety! read more

See all

My girlfriend and I spent a Saturday in Valle de Guadalupe with Chris as our guide and I honestly could not imagine a better experience. Before our trip we were given clear and detailed instructions on meeting at the border. We also provided our passport information to Baja Test Kitchen a few days in advance of our trip to ensure we had all of that taken care of (you MUST bring your passport with you on the trip!). On Saturday morning we met Chris for the first time at our arranged meetup spot. Our tour vehicle was comfortable and clean with plenty of bottled water provided for all the tour guests. We were driven across the border into Mexico and after about an hour and a half drive down the coastline arrived at our first winery just a little inland in Valle de Guadalupe. At this point I want to point out one of the most valuable parts of having Chris and Baja Test Kitchen take care of our tour logistics. On the day of our tour there was a massive bike race down the coast of Baja California. Chris was not only aware of the race but also knew when and where the race started and had a small detour for us to take to avoid the excess traffic. As a result we arrived at our first destination slightly ahead of schedule and totally unencumbered by the race. The entire day was like this, Chris knew exactly what was going on in the communities we visited and was an excellent navigator for our tour! Traveling with Chris isn't just being chauffeured from winery to winery. Chris has personal relationships with winery staff and even the owners! You can see how delighted the staff is when he shows up with a tour group, we get a little extra special treatment everywhere we go, seeing closed off areas, meeting winery owners and staff, and enjoying all the little extras that come with the relationships Chris has developed over the years. You get a lot more than what you pay for on this tour! Chris does a great job of balancing his presence during the tour. He has stories to tell of the wineries and the history of the surrounding areas, these make for a really rich experience that goes beyond just wine tasting. When you get to a new destination, the tastings are ready to go, the staff is friendly and happy you are there, and its all taken care of for you. Chris is your guide the entire day and he is incredibly good at what he does. I forgot to mention lunch. I could not have asked for a better lunch. Everyone in our group loved food and trying new things. The lunch we had on this tour was the best mexican food I have tasted (so far!). Getting back across the border honestly could not have been easier. With clear instruction and guidance, our group crossed back into the US in about 25 minutes. Basically you just wait in line until its your turn to talk to a border crossing agent and show them your passport and (if you have purchased) your allowed one bottle of wine, and then you are back in the US, so easy. We actually ordered a 6 bottle case of wine to be delivered once we got back home so you can definitely bring back more than just one bottle! But when you are physically crossing back into the US, only one bottle of wine per person is allowed. Before we met Chris that morning I was a little anxious about crossing as this was my first time crossing into Tijuana. Once we had crossed into Mexico, safety ended up not being a concern. Chris knew exactly where to go and made us feel so comfortable the entire time. Unfortunately we hear so much in the media about what a dangerous place it is 'over there' and I can honestly say this is totally unwarranted after our tour with Chris. I can't wait to go back! read more

Best way to see the Valley! First of all, being picked up at our home in San Diego, was an unexpected, and pleasant surprise from a tour operation. Door to door service - nice! My husband booked a Day trip so we could check out the Valley before we go down there this summer, for the first time, for a friend's wedding. Thanks to Chris, we most definitely got the lay of the land. Being that we were more interested in food than wine, Chris tailored the trip for us. We started with a visit to a working livestock ranch whose dairy cows produce a variety of delectable cheeses to the booming restaurant and winery scene in the Valley. I was in heaven. We even bought olive oil, produced on the ranch, at a fraction of what it would cost in the USA. Our day included 2 wineries, each unique and so picturesque. I am not very knowledgeable about wine and Chris really helped educate me; no snobbery just appreciation. He's American, but bilingual and his translations were really helpful. When we had our midday meal, at one of the best restaurants in the Valley, we let Chris do all the ordering. First he asked our preferences and how adventurous of diners we were. We were delighted with his choices. Even his dessert choice! We just got to relax and enjoy the day, being driven around in the comfort of his Land Rover (immaculately clean) as he shared his knowledge and connections in the Valley. We went into the day with no expectations and were blown away by how much we saw and did in just a few hours. read more

See all

I was expecting to go around eating food and drinking agua fresca, but Chris made our experience much more than that. He gave us the background and history of Tijuana, where certain ingredients originated from, and the science behind cooking it. It made what we ate that much better. The food vendors in Tijuana were super friendly and knew Chris. Chris also tipped all the vendors, which I really appreciated. We also had everything in the car. Chris prepared a cooler full of waters, iphone chargers, napkins, and forks just in case we needed them. Overall, I'd recommend him to any friends, and will contact BTK again for other cities I visit in the future. read more

Thank you for the excellent experience we had on our first trip to the Guadalupe Valley. I honestly was a skeptic of the wine quality, however, no longer...the wines were superb. Far better than most wines in Temecula, for example. Highlights of the trip for our four person private tour included: - BTK's Excellent website and FAQ, allowed us to prepare with minimal anxiety - Prompt and responsive service to our numerous questions on passports, travel, cuisine and wines...thank you Chris - We'll take Jen as our guide any-time. She is great company, very knowledgeable and put up with us for a full day - Traveling in the Range Rover was much appreciated over a van or vehicle...thank you - Personal touches, visits with the winemakers, made us feel like VIP's or insiders, not just tourists - The access to additional tastings/reserve wines, including Las Nubes, Vena Cava and especially at Chateau Camou was memorable - Lunch at Finca Altozano was terrific...I dreamt of the Pato with the black mole yesterday... Only downside is that we are only allowed 1 litre each to bring home by U.S. customs...but we will buy more now that we know where to find Baja wines in San Diego. Your service is also a great value, for example, comparing the BTK one day trip for 2 from San Diego vs. a one day trip to Santa Ynez valley (Santa Barbara). Until our next trip with Baja Test Kitchen... read more

Baja Test Kitchen - Wine tasting at Las Nubes in Guadalupe Valley with Willie the somalier house dog - Food Tours Near Me - San Diego, California

Signed up for the BTK tour with two of my closest girlfriends and I can easily say that it one of the most relaxing and breathtaking weekends I ever had. Jen was an absolute gem of a tour guide. Every winery was different than last and was filled with art, culture, and great wine! The tapas during our lunch were as incredible as the scenery. I will definitely be back, could not BTK recommend more! PS: crossing to and from the border was much easier than expected read more

See all

I had a great time with the Baja Test Kitchen duo. I had come along for a wedding reception, and didn't quite know what to expect. I was quickly blown away: the balance of the down-to-earthness and professionalism ensured that this would be a fun and memorable trip. I also appreciated the insights when it comes to indigenous cultures and local history. Oh, and not to mention the delicious birria tacos that I will surely seek out again... Thanks a lot, guys! read more

I don't tend to write a lot of reviews online - usually only when I am extremely satisfied or extremely dissatisfied. So here I am to give a whole-hearted endorsement to Baja Test Kitchen for our wine and food excursion to Baja and the Guadalupe Valley. We had arranged a private tour for three of us to go to a couple of wineries and lunch and that seemed like but, but we weren't really sure what to expect. Chris from BTK arranged to pick us up at our house, which was really an unexpected treat as we'd thought that maybe we'd meet him at the border or some other pre-arranged place. Nope - we got door-to-door service in a luxury vehicle. During our trip, we made such good time crossing the border, that Chris improvised a stop in Ensenada for some terrific tostadas at Mariscos La Guerrerense, which were dellcious. During our trip, we had a great conversation with Chris about the region, its history, and recent changes in its economy. Not only were we getting great food, we were learning things we'd never known. Our trip took us to two wineries (Las Nubes and Vena Cava) and a terrific lunch at Finca Altazano, which was so good that I'd make the trip back just for that. The wines were much better than I'd expected for "Mexican" wines, which showed my lack of knowledge of the region more than anything else. Overall, the day was really a great trip. Great food, excellent wine, and fun, informative conversation - and I haven't even mentioned the value, we got all that food, wine, and door-to-door service for a really reasonable price. I may never drive myself into Baja again. Seriously. I hope that BTK keeps these tours going, because we're already planning trips with ourselves and when friends come into town. read more

Chris took us on a weekend getaway down to ValleDeGuadalupe Rebels from start to finish it was absolute perfection. Chris is a wonderful tour guide. He knowledge about the The region and its rich history was fantastic. I had the two best meals of my life The winds were very good. Will recommend to all my friends and we will be back thanks Chris! read more

Thank you so much for an amazing experience that my friends and I will never forget! We went for my bachelorette party and had the time of our lives! From meeting Jen at our house, who is incredibly sweet and knowledgeable of the land to getting dropped off safe and sound, everything was perfect. We were picked up in a beautiful and spacious land rover fully equipped with water bottles, hand sanitizers and a really long aux cord so that we could entertain ourselves with some 90's/2000's pop. The wineries were beautiful and the wines were delicious! Not to mention that amazing olive tapenade and cheese, all different flavors that are unique to the land. Jen's husband, Chris, was incredibly knowledgable about the wine making process particularly for this region as it is quite different from what we are used to in Northern California. We learned a lot :) The restaurant that we went to was THE BEST. We had the most buttery polenta, savory lengua, crispy tacos, and refreshing sangria. Great recommendations Jen! I can't wait to take my next trip with Baja Test Kitchen with my soon to be husband and friends! read more

the gist: #1 - Do the tour. #2 - Come hungry! the whole enchilada: My boyfriend and I did the Tijuana Bites tour with Chris. To start, booking the tour online was seamless. They also have a very helpful chat function on the BTK website where I was able to ask questions before booking. Leading up to the tour, Chris was easy to communicate with via email. He sent us info on the tour and very helpful directions for the day of. Throughout the tour, Chris shared cool history about the food and navigated us through the market to the tastiest tamales, tacos and tortas. We finished the tour with happy taste buds, full bellies and in awe of Tijuana's vibrant food scene. We'll definitely be back! read more

Our experience with Baja Test Kitchen was absolutely amazing. We got to ride in comfort and style in a luxurious Land Rover around beautiful back roads in the Guadalupe Valley. We got to try some delicious foods and wines in some incredible settings. Chris is charming and knowledgeable and helped to create an unforgettable experience for us. I can't recommend them highly enough! read more

On our way back home, me and my friend kept repeating that we were so glad to have done this trip. Chris was an excellent culinary guide and the places we visited were incredible jewels that we couldn´t had experienced it any other way. read more

As first timers we knew we wanted to experience Valle's wine culture but weren't exactly comfortable doing it on our own. BTK made this so easy and very enjoyable. We were a group of 4 women on a private tour, we always felt like we were in good hands and got lucky to have Chris as our host. We really enjoyed ourselves, the wine and the food. Still dreaming about our meals- ironic since we went for the wine- which we loved too but the food, yummmmm. Finca Altozano and Doña Esthela's are NOT. TO. BE. MISSED. The wineries were all beautiful and we had fantastic service everywhere we went- they liked Chris too which was a bonus! We did a 2 day, 1 night tour and felt like we saw enough to want to come back but not so much that we were burned out. You can have confidence in Baja Test Kitchen to put together a great itinerary for you too. read more

If you've been thinking of checking out the wineries in the Valle de Guadalupe, book through BTK! We had such an amazing time with Chris as our guide, crossing the border was easy & painless, and the wineries & lunch were all perfect picks. read more

One of my Bday presents this year was the Taste of Tijuana Market & Street Food Tour with Baja Test Kitchen. What a great and tasty day! The whole experience was amazing. Chris from BTK start communicating with us a week before giving us a detailed information and reminders. Last Sunday morning we met Chris at the border and started a wonderful day of amazing food, great company and unforgettable memories. Chris passion, knowledge and personality made this day trip very special for us. We are defiantly going to try more tours in the future. Very highly recommended! read more

We really didn't know what to expect either on our taco tour or with Tijuana itself. With all the news lately scaring people away from going south of the border, I refused to let that stop me from going. We drove to the border and safely parked our car in an attended lot (only $9 for the day). Chris met us in San Diego and gave us a brief orientation of our tour, then we crossed the border and within minutes were in a foreign country (coming from the East, that is amazing). To my great joy- we saw a clean, bright, safe and quiet city that was more comfortable and welcoming to us than most cities to the north! Chris, our guide is a wealth of knowledge for the food, indigenous ingredients and culture of Mexico- and he took the time to explain so much to us- don't worry though, there is no exam at the end. The food was terrific, and even one of our less adventurous eaters in our group enjoyed every bit of what we tried. We went to places you simply would not know about or find on your own. The market place was clean and safe, I only wish we could have bought some things to take back with us but the border inspectors might have something to say about that! I am sitting here craving the tacos of Birria, crispy tortillas with cheese and tender beef that melts in your mouth- when you go to a place where that is the only thing on the menu, you know it has got to be good and it was! Crossing back to the US was simple and took about 15 minutes, though the line looked long it went very quickly so again was no issue at all. If you have ever been curious to go to Tijuana or are planning a visit to San diego, I highly recommend getting signed up with BTK and get going on a taco tour with them. We look forward to a tour of the Guadalupe valley with BTK next! read more

Our wine tasting tour was beyond my expectations. Chris is so knowledgeable of everything in baja. He took us to 3 different wineries in el Valle de Guadalupe that were amazing. Our gourmet lunch was like nothing I've ever experienced before. The food was so fresh, organic and delicious. I've recommended this tour to everyone I know! read more

Yet another great experience with Baja Test Kitchen. Had the most wonderful time on their Tijuana Bites tour that was modified for a private party. Going in/out of Mexico was super easy, and all of our food stops were amazingly delicious. Some highlights: the birria taco (have never heard of it before Baja Test Kitchen introduced it to me), best tamale I have ever had, and the delicious Al Pastor taco. The Caesar's salad restaurant was also a great experience. Chris knows so much about the culture and cuisine of Mexico, it was not only tasty but an educational experience! read more

Wife treated me for my birthday, was pleasantly surprised how nice of an experienced it was. Had a great time,enjoyed the wine,food,place and people. Highly recommend it to all especially to wine officialnodos. read more

I've lived in San Diego for about four years now and I have heard so many delightful things regarding the Valle region in Mexico- a goldmine for foodies and winos! I booked a tour for my friend and I, and Jen with Baja Test Kitchen picked us up from the US side of the border and drove us into Mexico. She was a passionate and knowledgeable guide and storyteller. She brought us to two amazing wineries where we enjoyed the beautiful views and tasty wines, then to lunch at Finca Altozano (so delicious!!) and we ended the day at a third winery with more wine & a cheese plate. It was the perfect day with a perfect ending. She dropped us at the pedestrian express crossing where we easily walked back across the border with no wait. She followed up with lovely photos of our little tour from the day. We can't wait to plan our next adventure with Baja Test Kitchen! read more

Chris and Baja Test Kitchen deserve a million stars. And no, that is NOT an exaggeration. On Saturday Chris took 9 of us to Tijuana to tour the local breweries and taquerias. Everyone had a blast! Chris not only knows the best spots to hit, he also has an unparalleled knowledge of Tijuana history and culture. Combine that with his love of food and beer, and you're in for a fantastic trip. Side note, we were secretly planning a birthday and engagement celebration so the plans were fluid to say the least. He could not have been more accommodating and for that we are forever thankful. Thank you Chris! We will be back again. read more

We had a great tour for our group of ten! Chris was very professional and knowledgeable, and clearly has great relationships with the local wineries. We had a fabulous lunch based on his suggestions, and everyone was very pleased with the service. Chris provides a lot of information to the group before the tour so everyone is prepared. The Valle region is absolutely gorgeous and we can't wait to go back! read more

Jen and Chris are so Rad!! My husband and I had an awesome time on our tour. We will always remember this trip! Thank you so much!

This was an amazing introduction to Baja California and the Valle de Guadalupe's exquisite wine country. Lawrence, our tour guide, was knowledgeable and attentive. The vineyards chosen by Chris and Jen (BTK owners) were excellent, especially Villa Montefiore and Vena Cava. Lunch at Finca Altozano was delicious. Very safe and smooth tour. Would definitely recommend this to anyone considering a trip to Baja California and this up-and-coming wine country. Crossing the border on either side was easy. Look forward to trying out more tours with BTK! read more

Let me begin by saying I typically despise organized tours. But I was staying in the Valle and only had my motorcycle which doesn't fair well with bad dirt roads and drinking so I found a great itinerary with Baja Test Kitchen so gave it a try. Everything was absolutely perfect. The communication up front along with an update on ETA that morning was incredible. Not only were the winery stops exceptional but Chris had a personal connection with each that made it feel like we were all visiting friends. And having a group lunch at Finca Altozano was an absolute treat where, again, Chris knew our server by name and our service seemed a little extra special. Finally, the group was great and I'm so appreciative that I was able to join solo when many tours require a whole group to join. And a postscript - If you're hesitant to cross the border because of some perception that it's unsafe, nothing could be further from the truth. You're in a chartered vehicle the entire time and the Valle is like visiting rural farm country in the Midwest. There is truly nothing to fear except missing out on an exceptional experience you'll never forget! read more

Had a fabulous day touring with BTK. I went with some friends but would like to return with my spouse. - Tons of DETAILED information in advance was awesome. - Our guide Laurence was knowledgeable and fun plus I felt comfortable with his driving (I don't always feel comfortable with my husband's driving so that's huge). - Lovely people at every venue we visited. - Fantastic food and wine. If you're looking to get plowed this is not the trip for you. Even with the bottle of wine we purchased for the four of us to share at lunch I felt normal all day. read more

I received a Wine Tasting trip to Valle de Guadalupe as my BDay present from my Sister! Wow, what an amazing day!! There were six in my group with 2 other couples on our tour. Chris was AMAZING!! Not only did we tour some amazing wineries, have a gastronomical feast for lunch, but Chris shared so much local history of the areas we were driving through. Who knew Russians settled in Mexico and grew wine? It was an absolutely top notch event to the luxury vehicle that transported us, to the personalized wine tasting at some very memorable wineries and to the amazing dining at Finca Altozano. I cannot wait to book another trip!! The Karma Girls thoroughly enjoyed themselves-Thank you Chris!!! read more

My husband and I took the 3 winery tour on our anniversary and it was a spectacular way to celebrate! Our tour guide was one of the owners, Chris, and he was awesome! He was very knowledgeable about the region, the wineries we visited and the wine making process. You could tell he put a lot of thought and effort into curating the experience for us. Having been to Mexico only a couple times, we didn't have much experience with crossing the border but Chris provided all the information we needed to make it a smooth and quick process. We are already thinking about the next tour we are going to book with BTK! Thank you, Chris and team!! read more

PSA: if you aren't a fan of drinking and driving, this is not the tour for you. Chris, the driver, went drink for drink with us during the wine tastings. While it might be legal in Mexico, this certainly wasn't what we were expecting when booking a high-end guided tour. Especially with a 2 hour trip ahead of us back to the border. Only towards the end, after more than a few glasses of wine, did the driver start to spit out his wine. He made a whole show of it to make us feel bad that he had to drive and stay "sober". Honestly, it's hard to look past that huge lapse in judgement and professionalism. The wineries were great and lunch was delicious, but we regretted not taking an Uber. read more

You could not ask for a better guide than Chris Mejia. He is not only extremely knowledgeable about the Tijuana food scene and the general Baja history and environs, but he is very clearly passionate and enthusiastic about exposing those of us north of the border to the beauty and influence of the wine region. We were sent thorough instructions before the day of the tour and were met at a convenient and easy to find location on the U.S. side. Once we met Chris, we felt we were in the best of hands. The length and pace of the tour was perfect. There was a quick rest-stop before hitting 2 wineries in the morning (Villa Montefiori Winery and Château Camou Winery), a leisurely delicious lunch at a gorgeous al fresco restaurant located in the heart of the valley (Finca Altozano), and one more progressive eco-winery to cap off the tour (Alximia Winery). The tastings were very reasonably priced ($5-$15 USD per person) with generous pours. My husband and I opted for sharing the premium tastings. Chris told us that the wineries are different on every tour, so we could book a tour in the future that would take us to different parts of the valley and that it was even possible to customize a tour. Good to know! The unpaved roads were terrible because of the heavy rains in previous weeks, so we were glad to be in the comfortable, custom modified van that Chris drove us in. (We felt bad for the visitors we saw who were trying to drive regular cars over deeply eroded roads.) Chris knew everyone (or rather, they all knew him) and you could tell his relationships with the winery staff were well established. We seemed to get special treatment and received the kind of attention and access provided only to VIP guests. Chris spent the whole day with us, 10 hours!!!) and he remained upbeat and energetic throughout. We ended the tour at the pedestrian crossing to the U.S. around 6:30pm, said our long goodbyes, and we were back stateside by 7:15pm. We marveled at how much we had seen and experienced that day and are eager to go back. The worst part of the tour is actually no fault of the Baja Test Kitchen, but of the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol which allows only one liter per person (essentially one bottle of wine per person) and will seize anything over that amount so choose your bottles wisely! These are wines you most likely won't be able to get in the U.S. so it's a truly unfortunate situation if you fall in love with more than two different wines on the tour. We will definitely return to the Valle de Guadalupe and most definitely will choose Baja Test Kitchen again for our next tour in Baja. read more

See all

Baja Test Kitchen is a one of a kind company. If you have ever thought of doing a day trip and exploring Baja you should definitely book through them. They made the whole trip so fun, enjoyable and very educating as well. My partner and I booked a trip to go wine tasting in the Valle de Guadalupe last weekend and it was fantastic. I had no idea the Valley had so many wineries and all the wines were so delicious and so different. Chris was very knowledgeable, friendly and accommodating with the group. It was a pleasure to get to meet him and hang out for the day. Overall, I loved the trip and will be coming back for more. read more

2 girlfriends and I got reallllly lucky. We spent a magic 12 hours with Chris of Baja Test Kitchen bouncing around Guadalupe Valley, discovering the cheese and wine and appetizers and Troika Food Truck and Airstream wannabe hotel and wandering the back roads in this 4 wheel Jeep, mandatory for going to the smaller vineyards away from the big bus groups. From the initial e mail contact to the dropping off after a horrendous Tecate border crossing, Chris took care of us. Casual but clearly on top of things, he told stories and shook hands and knew owners and workers and dogs and ducks and was enjoying himself showing us alittle of his beloved Guadalupe Valley. It was just what you'd want if you were to explore a new region.. someone who is enthralled and bilingual and eager to share his experience but just happened to be smart and educated and friendly and had gone before, come back and pounded on your front door saying "hey, you gotta see this, come check this out with me." Wow, it was fun. One thing you might have missed, we were only 3 people. We didn't want a big tour bus that might not go if they didn't have their minimum number of people and we might get a last minute call the trip was cancelled and hope to get your money back. I mean one company said they'd confirm the night before. I was flying into San Diego for this, I needed set plans. But more than just set plans, we got an enthusiastic personalized tour. I suppose it helps he got married a few months ago on the premises of one vineyards...that tells you how in love this guy is with Guadalupe Valley. What a day, what a wonderful day. Thanks, Chris, for sharing part of your heart and love with us. read more

It was a great one day trip to the Guadalupe Valley. We visited three wineries and one restaurant. Safe journey with very good service. Chris was very attentive and knowledgeable regarding areas he took us to. We had lots of fun and also we broadened our knowledge, learned about wine fermentation and history of the area. Thank you for this trip. I truly enjoyed it! read more

See all

Chris is the best! He definitely knows the culinary scene in TJ, and took us to one of the best restaurants I've been to in years (La Justina)! Baja Test Kitchen knows the brewery scene quite well also. We visited several breweries and tasting rooms, and they were all great! Overall an awesome trip, we will definitely be using Baja Test Kitchen for future trips to TJ and Valle de Guadalupe! read more

This is a great tour company! My family and I spent a perfect day exploring the delicious food and wine in the Valle de Guadalupe, near Ensenada, BC. Our tour guides were knowledgeable and friendly and all of the wineries we visited were top notch. As a bonus, we really enjoyed all of the other people we met in our tour group. The next time we want to have a foodie adventure in Mexico we will definitely go with Baja Test Kitchen. read more

Just spent twelve hours touring the Valle with Chris and Jen of Baja Test Kitchen. It was a perfect day. We visited Las Nubes Winery with sweeping views of the valley and learned about its history and its legendary winemaker, Victor Torres. The wines were lovely and the snacks divine. Our next stop was a boutique winery, F. Rubio where we had a beautiful delicious lunch in air conditioning with a fab view of the valley. Wines were of course excellent and Chef Alex a delight. In both wineries Chris was able to get us down into the wine making and storage facilities and gave us a wealth of information. Our last stop as a brewery/winery on the south side of the valley, Cieli. We opted for beer and sat with our feet up and soaked up the views. Altogether awesome!!!! read more