Team C&J
This Winery Is Permanently Closed.
Winery Rating
Located at:
Km83 Carretera Tecate- El Sauzal, 22750 Ensenada, B.C., México
Wine Club Rating
Price Range For Tasting
One of the greatest joys we have as wine lovers is introducing friends, and our extended group of friends here on the blog, to the thrill of going wine tasting in Valle de Guadalupe, Baja Mexico’s electric wine region. Despite the region’s growing acclaim, there still is not a lot of information available on English language travel and wine blogs, so our latest mission is doing deep dives into a few of our favorite tasting rooms south of the border so that you, too can experience Baja wine for yourself.
Casa Magoni is a winery in Mexico’s Valle de Guadalupe founded by Italian immigrant Camillo Magoni, a winemaker with over 50 years of experience in the industry. Magoni is known for his experimentation with different grape varieties, and his winery has over 120 grape varieties planted, which is astounding. Casa Magoni’s wines are highly regarded by critics and consumers alike, and a trip to the winery’s tasting room in Baja is the perfect place to spend an afternoon wine-tasting alfresco-style.
A quick word about this article. This post is primarily focused on the tasting room experience when you visit Casa Magoni and your wine-tasting options when you arrive. For more information on winemaker Camillo Magoni, take a look at our review of the 2019 Casa Magoni Nebbiolo.
Without further ado, let’s dig into the review of the tasting room at Casa Magoni.
The entrance to the winery is dotted with beautiful desert flowers and shrubs, and when you’re seated under one of the massive oak trees for your tasting, the view couldn’t be better.
Sleek and modern would be a good way to describe the vibe at Casa Magoni Winery. If you visit a lot of tasting rooms in California, or even on the East Coast of the United States, where stylish farmhouses seem all the rage, the architecture here will be a welcome change. It’s such a departure from what you may expect a winery to look like. No chateaus or farm houses here in Baja, just authentic tasting rooms.
Afternoons in Mexico can get pretty toasty, but there is ample shaded seating to conduct your tasting. While we were sitting under an oak tree, the temperature dropped by 20 degrees, making the 95-degree outdoor seating area a very comfortable 75. The winery also offers indoor tasting, if that’s what you prefer.
Wine lovers, rejoice, because when you visit Casa Magoni you’ve got a lot of options to select from. You can choose:
Wine tastings at Casa Magoni are priced between $15 (250 pesos) to $38 (650 pesos). Each tasting also includes a fun souvenir glass to remember your visit.
We purchased a cheese and charcuterie board to pair with our tasting, and it was just perfect.
Before we get into the wines we tasted, we just want to give a shout-out to our hostess, Kenia. She was exceptionally well-versed on the wines, and the history of the winery. If you have a few wine tastings under your belt, then you know what a pleasure it is to engage with someone who actually knows the wines inside and out.
2022 Casa Magoni Chardonnay Vermentino – $16
Vermentino is a newer grape variety in Valle de Guadalupe, but you wouldn’t know it from this bottle. A pale lemon color in the glass, this nose offers notes of crisp apple, pear, and subtle minerality. The wine is medium-bodied, has a nice mouthfeel, and the palate is somewhat creamy with notes of zesty lime, lemon, and peach flavors. Winemaker Magoni’s interpretation in the 2022 vintage is 50% Chardonnay and 50% Vermentino.
We rated this wine 89 Points. Making it a Good wine.
2021 Casa Magoni Manaz – $16
It’s not often that you see white wine blends with Rhone’s Viognier and Campania’s Fiano, but Casa Magoni Manaz 2021 manages to pull this duo off brilliantly. Pronounced aromas of apple, lemon, lime, and lychee, rise from the glass. The palate is delightful, with juicy yellow apple, pear, zingy lime, and aromatic lychee. The high acidity and weighty body present nicely, and the finish lingers. A really distinctive wine.
We Rated this wine 88 Points. Making it a Good wine.
2021 Casa Magoni Sauvignon Blanc – $15
The first thing we noticed about Sauvignon Blanc from Valle de Guadalupe is that it presents slightly differently than both French, California, and Australian interpretations. All of the previously mentioned regions produce Sauv Blancs that are lighter bodied than this medium bodied wine.
In the glass, the wine is a deep lemon. The nose is a bouquet of ripe fruits with peach, guava, and lemon leading the way. Elements of wet gravel, grass, and even brioche-like butter also present. The palate of this Baja Sauvignon Blanc is lively, with lots of citrus (lemon and grapefruit), but also tropical guava, and apple. A nice wine for the price.
We Rated this wine 89 Points. Making it a Good wine.
2021 Casa Magoni Cabernet Sauvignon Sangiovese – $18
Cabernet Sauvignon and Sangiovese are an intriguing idea, but this blend didn’t do much for us.
The nose is all leather, cherry, and cedar, typical for a Sangiovese, not so much for a Cab. The palate offers a bite more, with notes of olive, plum, cherry, oak, and tobacco. We got the impression that the Sangiovese kind of took over here. While both grape varieties have been grown in Valle de Guadalupe for decades, it seems like these two should be stand-alone wines, rather than blended. Not our favorite of the bunch.
We rated this wine 86 points. Making it a Good wine.
2020 Casa Magoni Malbec Merlot – $23
Ever since Sideways lamented Merlot, this grape has gotten a bad rap, but this blend of 60% Merlot and 40% Malbec was very nice and approachable. In the glass, the wine is a deep ruby color, and the nose exudes dark stewed fruit, tobacco, and herbs (lavender and rosemary). The palate is highly tannic, and sings with a smokey richness, black fruit (cherry, currant, blackberry), as well as herbs like oregano and sage, lush tobacco, and black pepper. Great flavor intensity and finish on this wine.
We rated this wine 89 Points. Making it a Good wine.
2019 Casa Magoni Nebbiolo de Baja – $27
Casa Magoni’s Nebbiolo was our absolute favorite wine of the tasting. Just a brilliant interpretation of this Piedmontese grape in Valle de Guadalupe. The wine is a deep purple, and the nose is a captivating bouquet of plum, dates, and aromatics like cedar, violet, and rosemary. The palate is well-structured and balanced, with perfectly moderate tannins, and notes of dark pitted fruits like black cherry and plum, complemented by hints of licorice, cedar, and black pepper. The finish is long-lasting, leaving a lingering impression even after the final sip.
We rated this wine 91 Points. Making it a Very Good wine.
When you start planning your wine tasting vacation to Mexico’s Valle de Guadalupe, a stop at Casa Magoni is a must. The staff and the setting are fantastic, the wines are good, and this hidden gem is well worth the visit.
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