Team C&J
Nestled in the heart of Baja California, Valle de Guadalupe is a paradise for wine lovers, food enthusiasts, and travelers seeking a blend of luxury and authenticity. From boutique hotels with breathtaking vineyard views to world-class wineries and innovative restaurants, this region offers a taste of Mexico’s flourishing wine country. Whether you’re savoring a bold Cabernet Franc, indulging in a farm-to-table feast, or unwinding at a serene resort, every experience here is crafted to delight the senses.
Luxury meets tranquility at Il Cielo Resort. With beautifully designed rooms and an on-site restaurant (Latitude 32), it’s the perfect base for exploring the valley.
Offering rustic charm with modern comforts, Hacienda Guadalupe provides stunning vineyard views and warm hospitality.
Known for its bold approach to winemaking, Casta de Vinos blends tradition with innovation. Their tasting room provides an intimate setting where visitors can savor their rich reds and crisp whites while chatting with the passionate winemakers.
2017 Casta de Vinos Casta Tinta Syrah – 93 PTS – $33
Monte Xanic is the crown jewel of Valle de Guadalupe. With a sprawling estate and a modern tasting room overlooking scenic vineyards, it’s a must-visit—their tasting experience pairs perfectly with panoramic views and thoughtfully curated wines.
2021 Monte Xanic Edición Limitada Cabernet Franc – 96 PTS – $55
One of our favorite wines of 2023, this limited edition Cabernet Franc is smooth, complex, and elegant.
Set against a desert backdrop, Casa Magoni offers an idyllic tasting experience. The winery focuses on producing high-quality wines emphasizing lesser-known grape varieties, making it a favorite for adventurous palates.
Bold and structured, this Nebbiolo offers dark fruit notes with a powerful yet balanced finish.
A hidden gem, Bodegas F. Rubio delights visitors with its rustic charm and exceptional wines. Nestled among the vineyards, this winery is perfect for those seeking an authentic and laid-back tasting experience.
Bodegas F. Rubio’s 2021 Herencia Palomino Fino – 91 PTS – $25
Palomino, which is predominately used to make Sherry and Chenin Blanc.
Vinos Y Vinícolas: Wines and Wineries of Baja California, Mexico
Fauna is a culinary experience not to be missed. With stunning vineyard views and an ever-changing menu, it’s the perfect place to indulge.
Corkage Fee: No Outside Alcohol Allowed
Emat brings Michelin-star-level dining to Valle de Guadalupe. The attention to detail and creative flavors make every meal memorable.
Corkage Fee: $20 Per Bottle / No Limit
An open-air dining experience set amidst the vineyards, Deckman’s focuses on sustainability and farm-to-table cuisine.
Corkage Fee: No Outside Alcohol Allowed
Moonstone Crossing Winery in Trinidad, CA
Moonstone Crossing is a winery with an unconventional setup—while the tasting room sits in the laid-back coastal town of Trinidad, the grapes themselves hail from some of California’s most renowned regions, including Napa, Sonoma, Mendocino, and Amador. This allows winemakers Don Bremm and Sharon Hanks to source the best fruit while keeping their winemaking process local to the North Coast.
The winery takes a meticulous approach to winemaking, aging all red wines in French and American oak for 22 to 36 months before bottling. Unlike many large-scale operations, Moonstone Crossing avoids pumping, fining, or filtering its wines, relying instead on traditional methods to preserve the character and complexity of each varietal. The result? Rich, layered wines with bold flavors that reflect both their origins and the careful craftsmanship behind them.
2014 Moonstone Crossing Cabernet Franc C&J Rating: 91 Points Price: $35
The Moonstone Crossing cabernet franc is everything we love about cab francs. The nose is a boutique of earth, mineral, and vegetal aromas: chalk, white pepper, olive, bell pepper, and faint strawberry. And the palate has balanced notes of subdued cherry, strawberry, wet gravel, chalk, bell pepper, petrol, and the soft spice of white pepper.
This wine was barrel-aged for 23 months in French oak, resulting in a deliberately soft palate that is wonderfully layered and complex.
Susanna’s Restaurant in Rosarito Beach, Baja, MX
Originally from Los Angeles, Susanna Stehr opened her eponymous named restaurant, Susanna’s, almost twenty years ago. What sets Susanna’s apart from other high-end restaurants in Baja is Susanna’s firm commitment to both the idea of California cuisine as a lifestyle and as a style of cooking. The menu prioritizes fresh, in-season produce, “healthy” fats from nuts, seeds, and olive oils, and incorporates a lot of lean protein from seafood and poultry.
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