We recently took a full-day tour run by Ark Voyage & Tours based out of San Diego.
The drive to Guadalupe Valley was uneventful (which is the best kind of trip to take). Once there, we visited a number of wineries, all of whom are producing some very decent red wines and even a few good whites. Our guide, Kurt, started at Vinas Pijoan where we sampled some excellent and usual red blends as well as a sweet dessert wine called "Manel" that wowed us with its raisin-y, chocolate-y goodness. We moved on to Hacienda La Lomita where a truly gifted winemaker showed what he could do with chardonnay, syrah and old-vine grenache grapes. There's no denying that he had talent and some very luscious fruit. That was followed by a jaw-dropping scenic Las Nubes lunch (and wine tasting). We also visited Quinta Monasterio, Trevista, Torres Alegre and LA Cetto for some short visits/tastings. Torres Alegre offered some remarkable aged wines at reasonable prices - a 9-year old Cabernet Franc/Merlot blend was selling for $45 and left whoever sipped it walking on clouds. LA Cetto produces value wines that can compete with many California wineries -- its Terra red blend cost $14 and could easily play in the California wine game. Kurt was well-versed in wines from around the world and specialized in his insights into Baja wineries.
What we discovered was that the wines being produced in Baja are now easily as good, if not better than those being crafted in Temecula and came surprisingly close to Paso Robles quality. But what Baja uniquely offers is the experience of tasting wines in an entirely different cultural setting. The vast majority of visitors to Guadalupe Valley are Mexican, along with some Europeans and Asians. As close as it is to San Diego, relatively few San Diegans make the short trip to this wino otherworld. There are a lot of reasons, including concerns about safety, US restrictions on importing liquor from Mexico, language barriers along with an entirely different currency. While these concerns may have had some validity in the past, most are no longer issues. The merchants in the Valley all speak English, use U.S. currency along with all credit cards and the region is as safe as most places in San Diego County. Moreover, the roads are well-maintained and marked. Yes, it is a different country with different rules and customs. But that is what makes the trip there so exciting and, well, different. Ya gotta check this out. It is a great outing and Kurt made it effortless. read more
