Hey travelers,
When people think of wine country, it’s usually California’s Napa Valley.
It’s the world-famous hometown of American fine wine, with more than 400 wineries scattered across the hills. The beautiful countryside, world-class dining, and luxurious accommodations & spas mean a trip to Napa always delivers.
But if you’ve already done Napa, or you’re after something different and more laid-back, I want to put another place on your wine country list.
Valle de Guadalupe, in Baja California, is Mexico’s relaxed, unhurried wine region.
Just 90 minutes south of San Diego, set inland from the Pacific Ocean and surrounded by mountains, this compact valley produces roughly 70% of all the wine made in Mexico.
There are about 150 wineries, ranging from estates to tiny family operations tucked down dirt roads you’d drive right past if you didn’t know where to look. Olive groves line the way between design-forward wineries producing bottles that reflect the terroir, with a growing slant toward organic, biodynamic, and low-intervention wines. The valley forms a Mediterranean microclimate of warm dry days and cool ocean air drifting inland from the Pacific that makes Valle de Guadalupe a great place to make wine.
While the young wine scene is worth exploring, the food (in my opinion) is the better reason to go.
On one end there’s no-frills roadside taco stands like Taquería La Principal with plastic chairs and just two options on the menu, making some of the best tacos you’ll eat in Baja. The other end is farm-to-table elevated dining built right into the vineyards. The chefs work with whatever their on-site gardens produced that day. Restaurants like Deckman’s en el Mogor, with its open-air rustic setting and live-fire cooking, and Fauna, with its long community tables and hyperlocal rotating menu, are some of my all-time favorites. The dining scene also leans heavily on the valley’s proximity to the Pacific coast. The Michelin-starred Conchas de Piedra pairs its fresh oysters, clams, and abalone with sparkling wine from the winery next door and is the kind of place you can easily lose an entire afternoon.
From several Michelin stars to spots on Latin America’s 50 Best Restaurants list, the awards for Valle’s dining keep coming. Some serious recognition for a place still flying under most people's radar.
Adopting a leisurely mindset is key during a visit to Valle de Guadalupe. This is not the place to rush from reservation to reservation. And where you stay helps set that tone.
MIRA Earth Studios is for the design lovers. It’s an adults-only retreat made up of 10 standalone minimalist studios that blend right into the hillside with private jacuzzis and vineyard views.
Casa Olivea is a small farm stay immersed in a quiet, natural environment, with a pool and sustainable Michelin-starred dining at Olivea Farm To Table right on-site.
Banyan Tree Veya is the more luxury option, with 30 spacious hilltop villas and a wellness focus. Do morning yoga overlooking the vineyards, visit their on-site winery, Pictograma, or reset with a temazcal ceremony at the spa.
The same microclimate that makes Valle de Guadalupe a good place to make wine also makes it a good place to visit year-round. Harvest season, roughly August through October, is when the valley feels most alive. Whichever month you land on, booking ahead is recommended, since most of the hotels are small on purpose.
Insider Note
Something to keep in mind before planning your next trip.
There’s a new way to book hotels with me. My Client Portal lets you browse hotels, compare rates, see available perks, and book on your own whenever it’s convenient for you. It’s built for the simpler stays, like a last-minute overnight, a quick weekend away, or when you already have a hotel in mind. Right now it covers a curated selection of hotels, so for anything more involved I’m still the one to call, and either way, I’m your advisor and advocate throughout your trip. If you’re not a client yet, fill out my client intake form and I’ll get you set up with access.
What’s On My Radar
A place, opening, or experience worth knowing about.
Ski season and this year’s winter forecast. Forecasters and publications are putting the odds of a strong to historic super El Niño this winter above 90%, with a chance of it becoming the strongest on record since 1950. That kind of signal is expected to favor the Southwest and California as North America’s premier snow destinations this year. Mammoth Mountain, CA is one of the most historically El Niño responsive mountains in North America, and Taos, NM tends to catch both Pacific storms and Gulf moisture, so both are near the top of my list for the upcoming season. Southern Utah and Colorado’s higher-elevation terrain looks solid too. As of now, I’d skip the Northern Rockies and Pacific Northwest this year, since they’re sitting in the warmer, drier half of the pattern. Of course, we can’t predict exact snowfall, but a pattern this lopsided is worth planning your season around.
If wine country’s on your list this harvest season or you’re looking ahead to ski season, I’d love to help make it happen. Gold Dust Travel is where to start.
If someone came to mind while you were reading this, feel free to forward it their way.
— Kelsey, founder of Gold Dust Travel