Baja California’s diversity attracts hundreds of tourists every year. Its natural attractions, including beaches, desert, valleys and forests, as well as its varied cultural, recreational and gastronomic offerings and the hospitality of its people make this an unmissable destination. Especially if you are looking to travel the Mexican Wine Route, since it tells a large part of the country’s wine history.
What to do in Baja California
Throughout its length, Baja California, in the northwest of Mexico, offers beautiful landscapes, sea, mountains, wildlife sightings, wine tastings and gastronomic offerings.
Tijuana is the most visited border in the world and a quality multicultural gastronomic hub, as well as being a cultural and artistic center, which has positioned it as one of the best cities to visit with family, partner or friends, says Baja California Travel, a website managed by the Baja California State Tourism Secretariat.
Tecate, meanwhile, is the only Magical Town located on a border and is an hour from some of the oldest wineries in the state. The city contains some of the best ranches and spas in the country and opportunities for the most adventurous spirits, who can go hiking, rappelling or scrambling (a demanding sport that combines hiking and rock climbing).
Ensenada: capital of Mexican wine
Ensenada is considered the capital of Mexican wine, according to Baja California Travel. And a tourist spot without equal. It is surrounded by the Pacific Ocean and the Gulf of California and has protected natural areas, vast terrestrial and marine flora and fauna, two National Parks, the National Astronomical Observatory and the “Picacho del Diablo”, the highest mountain on the peninsula.
In other words, Ensenada and its valleys, such as San Antonio de las Minas, are an ideal destination for lovers of nature and outdoor activities, since in the area you can practice surfing and off-road sports, among others. It is also a perfect destination for the most curious visitors, who have the opportunity to embark on the study of history in its 12 museums (including the Museum of the Vine and Wine).
And, of course, Ensenada is an excellent gastronomic destination, which has earned it the designation of “Creative City” by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in 2015.
The Guadalupe Valley, in Ensenada, is home to impressive landscapes that unite hills, vineyards and olive trees, and is an unmissable wine tourism destination, since there you can taste internationally recognized wines and try dishes from world-renowned restaurants that fuse local ingredients and innovative culinary techniques.
Before traveling to this region of the country, you should know that Baja California has a perfect location for growing vines to make wine. It is located in the so-called “wine belt,” an area located between the 30th and 50th parallels of latitude north of the equator that offers ideal conditions for growing wine.
In addition to offering perfect conditions for winemaking, Baja California is a faithful witness to the history of that industry. Often described as “the most important wine region in the country,” the Guadalupe Valley in Baja California tells the story of Mexican winemaking, as it is home to the oldest wineries in the country, explains the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.
How and where to learn about the history of Baja California winemaking
The large wine companies in Baja California were established approximately between the 1960s and 1970s, details the aforementioned book. Although there are some with more seniority. Among them, L.A. Cetto, one of the most outstanding wineries, with an outstanding track record in the country.
L.A. Cetto offers the possibility of practicing wine tourism, an activity oriented towards cultural and oenological discovery and enjoyment. If you are in the area of San Antonio de las Minas, Valle de Guadalupe or Tecate you will have the opportunity to approach this drink from a different perspective.
There, you will be able to walk through the vineyards, contemplate the majesty of nature, learn about the work of tilling the land and the vegetative cycle of the vines, from the first shoots to the harvest and the transformation of the fruit into a superior product: wine.
In the midst of a fascinating landscape where the colors of the sky, the sun and the earth merge, it is possible to learn how these spaces offer the perfect conditions for the elaboration of a noble drink and to explore the seven-generation winemaking tradition born in Italy in 1801 and rooted in its vocation to produce grapes and wine from the countryside in Mexico since 1928.
From the beginning with Don Angelo Cetto (1900), followed by the development and consolidation driven by Luis Agustín Cetto (1934), the national and international projection of Luis Alberto Cetto (1965) and the recent incorporation of Luis Angelo Cetto (1996) in search of new proposals that make the innovation and tradition of the company visible, this family business has proudly marked the history of viticulture in Mexico and has taken the Baja California brand to the world.
After admiring the benefits of the land and nature, you will be able to learn about its wines and delight yourself by tasting some of its renowned labels. And to accompany a glass of the best wine in the region, you can enjoy the excellent gastronomy of the area and participate in the Harvest Festival.
Live a multi-sensory experience that will captivate each of your senses, taste and perceive the aroma of quality wines with a Mexican seal, in the middle of an impressive natural environment, contemplating the endearing and surprising landscapes of Baja California.
Source: nationalgeographicla
