Ruta del Vino, Ensenada, Mexico

Wine lovers interested in a daytrip from Southern California will be delighted with a tour of the Ruta del Vino. Located in the Valle de Guadalupe outside of Ensenada, the rural back road winds through miles of interlacing vines and grapes.

It’d be difficult to stop through all of the offerings the Ruta del Vino has, but you really can’t go wrong no matter where you choose to stop. The valley has wineries both small and large where you can stop and have a taste of traditional Baja juices. Along the way you’ll also encounter numerous hacienda-style restaurants to fill your tummy and help you from getting a little too tipsy.

Local favorite Casa Predro Domecq holds some of the priciest selections and tastings around, but also some of the most flavorful. Save your money and stop here last, else you don’t have anything left to spend at the other great wineries. L.A. Cetto is another hotspot along the trail, though much less expensive. You can find bottles here for less than $10. It’s also one of the larger and more frequented wineries in the area and plays hosts to wedding receptions through peak seasons.

Many of the wineries even offer accommodations for those coming from out of town. The wonderful thing about the Ruta del Vino is you can traverse it at your leisure, or you also have the option of signing up for a guided tour.

If you’re a fan of taking it slow and have a designated driver who’s game, we recommend touring the route on your own.