Valle de Guadalupe

Me and the kids did a quick 2 day trip trip Guadalupe Valley Saturday and Sunday. The kids I get to work with and know are so refreshing and fun too.

Left to right: Kylie, friend, Cal Poly SLO graduate, winemaker at Rancho Capistrano. Wyatt, oldest boy, 6th and final year architecture student. Fat, old guy is moi, Stacey, friend, employee, Waldorff teacher.

First day was wine tasting:

Mogor Badan, average, did not eat at Deckmans.

LA Cetto, found a nice $9 bottle of Chardonnay, oak aged, old school California type, nice, buttery, smooth, was very surprised.

Doña Lupes, average wine but great herb infused olive oil.

Monte Xanic, decent, overpriced, duh.

Adobe Guadalupe, decent wines, overpriced.
Chardonay from stainless was good, ut $40 a bottle. It reminded me how much I prefer oak school chardonnay. Nice setting too but the taco truck was closed until March 3. Bummer.

All the wineries when asked of the water situation at their operations were very concerned. I know that valley very well and they should be. There is going to be huge problems for the wine growers there if relief in the form of major rain events does not happen this season.

Sunday, we forget about wine, switched to ale and hot springs for what ailed us. Beautiful weather. Since we had the big rig we parked at Fedrico's and hiked in. Fedrico is 83 years old now but still the same windy old coot I remembered him to be. Pools were hot, stream had water, scenery was lovely.


The arroyo is green and blooming.


Not much water to fall though.


Low flow, but more than we expected.


Small, but hot pool.

Sunday night, 7:00pm we arrived a TJ/SY border crossing. We finally crossed at 11:30. 4.5 hours to cross. Since the car was fool of young folks the time flew playing games and yakking it up.

The kids had a blast and so did i!

Nice job on the trip report, Don Jorge! Going to try the hot springs, one day.

Below are some of our favorites.

At LA Cetto, the Nebbiolo is excellent if you like a full bodied red (by far the best deal if you buy at restaurants in baja. Their Chenin Blanc is excellent for about $6

Try Tres Mujeres, I think they have one of the best Merlots for about $25. Very small producer and the wine maker will sign and label your bottle

Santo Tomas has a great outside sitting area with great views and can enjoy their Unico Red with some bread, cheese and oil

Las Nubes produces some good Reds and Cielo is nice to visit for their upscale layout and food is good.

In the VG, local quail, sardinas or borrego is outstanding from pretty much any restaurant.

Also, Ojo Negros has some good cheese and we go to this place owned and run by an Italian Family (can't remember the name) interesting history. They have a cheese cellar where you can sample their aged cheese from fresh to 3 years and on weekends produces some great food. We usually go down to Ensenada for fish tacos for breakfast then drive to Ojo Negros and spend the day at the cheese farm then drive through Laguna hansen and down to our place in Santa Veronica.

Cheers!

Quote: Originally posted by Genecag

Also, Ojo Negros has some good cheese and we go to this place owned and run by an Italian Family (can't remember the name) interesting history. They have a cheese cellar where you can sample their aged cheese from fresh to 3 years and on weekends produces some great food. We usually go down to Ensenada for fish tacos for breakfast then drive to Ojo Negros and spend the day at the cheese farm then drive through Laguna hansen and down to our place in Santa Veronica. Cheers!

Sorry for the slight Hi Jack

Quote: Originally posted by Howard

I know it will be hot, but what is the average day time and night time temps. in the valley in July? We have a big birthday coming up then and would like to take a group down for some vino and festivities.

Quote: Originally posted by MexicoTed

Hey Howard, make sure it's not late July when the Fiestas de Vendimia are in place as it will be crowded. Unless that's what you are looking for.

Quote: Originally posted by MexicoTed

I'm interested in those hot springs. Are there directions to those? How long was the hike in? And is this connected to the hot water that supplied an old hotel in that region that had hot springs? I remember reading about it. Thanks,Ted

Mexico Ted,

The hot springs are very easy to find. Take the road to LA Cetto's and proceed past it and past Doña Lupe's Winery staying on main dirt road. This main road is the road to the hot springs parking. It is about 4 miles past Lupe's Winery.

This road ends at Federico's who is the gate keeper. You pay Federico, 30 pesos per person, and proceed from there. Cars and pickups can drive in from his place to another parking area, cutting a mile off from the hike to the actual hot springs. From Federico's place the hike in is 2 miles. Very easy and scenic terrain. We had a camper rig and hiked in from Federico's.

This map shows the road to Rancho Garcia but the road continues from there, is in good shape and in a few miles arrives at Federico's and the entrance to the aguas termales or hot springs. We did the road in a F350 with a full size Lance camper and had no problems.

I do not know a thing about any previous hotel there but Federico might. He has limited English skills but in Spanish he will talk your ear off if you let him. Hope you have a great visit.