The Wine Pub in Point Loma Takes Monthly Trips to Experience Mexico
Written By: Jordan Ligons Valle De Guadalupe
We’re going to let you in on a secret: there’s a huge, untapped market of wineries in Mexico. Yup, we’re spilling the beans (or grapes for that matter)! The Wine Pub in Point Loma invites locals on monthly winery tours in Valle de Guadalupe that are fully equipped with some of the best street tacos, vino and ocean views that will leave you feeling full of amazing food and belly laughs. This group tour is lead by the one and only Fernando Gaxiola, President and Founder of Baja Wine + Food, and with Sandy Hanshaw, Owner of The Wine Pub, as his co-pilot, we were off on this all-day adventure. They had one goal in mind—to share this “piece of heaven” with us.
Along the route, there are various stops to taste vino. The main two roads merge the wine lovers with the locals to create a wine tasting escapade. Coupled with the ridiculously good Mexican cuisine, you have an excursion that you can’t pass up. The Wine Pub offers a one-of-kind experience that’s safe, fun and exposes you to quality that you can taste first hand. Here are the hot spots that we stopped to try:
Tacos Aaron
On our way to Valle de Guadalupe, we stopped off in Tijuana at this taco truck. Parked on a side street between an Office Depot and a Banamex, this hidden gem housed some of the best tacos I’ve ever eaten in my life. The Marlin taco was exquisite and jam-packed with flavor. I sincerely regret only ordering one. Gaxiola shared the must-order local favorites: Chicharron taco and the Machaca Con Huevo, their speciality breakfast taco.
After we were finished licking our fingers at Tacos Aaron, we hopped back into the caravan and started the wine part of the fun. “Red or white?” Gaxiola asked. Soon, all the cups were filled and a fellow traveler proposed a toast in Spanish, which translated to, “To love, a long life and time to enjoy it.” Cheers!
Map It:
Paseo de los Héroes 10311
Zona Rio, Zona Urbana Rio Tijuana, 22320
Tijuana, B.C., Mexico
Vinicola Torres Alegre y Familia
This family-run and operated winery and vineyard may be on the smaller side, but boy is it mighty. The Torres Alegre family pour their heart and soul into their wines; everything is with purpose and passion. Dr. Victor Torres Alegre received his PhD in wine enology, the first Mexican to achieve this honor, so he knows his stuff. His son, Leonardo Torres Alegre, gave us the tour of the facility including breakdowns how they slowly craft their unique wines. They have a high emphasis on the smell of their wines he explains, “Wine without aroma isn’t a wine. Without it, it would just be water and alcohol.”
We also got to explore the winery’s new rooftop tasting room. With 360 degree views of the valley and a wrap around bar, we looked down on the 15 acres of grapes, hills and mountainous terrain of Mexico.
Standouts included: La Llave Blanca—dry white wine, rich in color and rich in taste.
2013 Viko Tinto—a red wine that is very adaptable to your meal; this is a great bottle for your dinner party where everyone is ordering different plates, but your taste buds will thank you regardless.
Map It:
Calle No. Parcela 52
32590 Ejido El Porvenir
Baja California, Mexico
The temperature reached a high of 91 degrees by this point, Siri told me. Nonetheless, a (very) slight breeze ruffled the beautiful vines of Viña de Frannes. Here, we tasted five wines. The deep, deep red 2010 Pater Cabernet Sauvignon went down smooth as Carlos, our guide, explained the history and how the wine in the glass in front of us came to be. He explained that Mexico isn’t known for their wine; Coca Cola and beer are winning that battle. Still, their wines are in high demand, but they will always choose quality over quantity.
All their bottles (plus their 100 percent handmade Extra Virgin Olive Oil and olives) are available for purchase downstairs in their onsite store. The 2015 Legat Rosé is a must buy; sip after sip, it’ll get you hooked.
Map It:
Camino Vecinal al rancho Cañada del trigo s/n Valle de Guadalupe
San Jorge, 22750
Ensenada, B.C., Mexico
Mixtura Restaurant at Relieve Winery
And now we feast! Mixtura was a gorgeous restaurant and winery hidden off the main road that served fresh, authentic food, family style. We indulged in oysters, regular and grilled, the best seafood ceviche I’ve ever tried and an amazing arugula, pear and cheese pizza to start. Next was a lavender garden-fresh salad packed with grilled green apples, local cheese “oreado” and drizzled in lavender dressing. The grilled octopus was to die for and the chocolate lava cake took my fullness over the edge.
Map It:
Granate S/N, San Antonio de las Minas Baja California
Valle de Guadalupe, Baja California
You know what they say, always save the best for last. Gaxiola was racing the sun so we could get to our final location to watch the sun set into the sea at this dreamy place. The bass was bumpin’ as we we arrived; it was clear this was the spot for golden hour. Cuatro Cuatros also doubles as a hotel with dreamy cabanas available to rent.
We toasted to a glorious day and already began making plans when we were going to come back. We learned that winemaking is a passion-led business. Valle de Guadalupe has something special, really special. Pegged as the “Next Napa,” you must discover this destination for yourself. Convinced yet?
Map It:
El Tigre, carretera libre
Tijuana-Ensenada Km. 89 s/n
El Sauzal de Rodriguez,
Ensenada B.C., México
2017 Trip Dates
August 19
September 30
October 14
December 2 (Overnight)
The Wine Pub
2907 Shelter Island Dr, Ste 108
San Diego, CA 92106
619.758.9325
The Winery Scene in Mexico is Blowing Up: Don’t Miss Out!
Jordan is a storyteller with a creative passion for things LOCALE. She loves dogs, macaroni and cheese and buying shoes. This former student-athlete could always be found watching ESPN or actively engaged in a Kobe-verse-LeBron debate, with Kobe winning every time.
