BajaNomad

Baja wine valley not so good: Link fixed on edit

Santiago - 12-6-2023 at 06:14 AM

Disturbing news regarding the Valle: https://eedition2.sacbee.com/popovers/dynamic_article_popove...

We have been planning a Spring trip next year and are astounded at the number of new overpriced and underwhelming hotels; we're talking $450-$700/night with fancy webpages and zero history. Two of the places we have been staying at over the last 15 years are completely booked for a random weekend in March - crazy.
We will abandon our normal routine of a few old friends and some startups and just visit the ones that have been there for 15-20 years to get a feel of what they are thinking.
We suspect we won't be pleased with what we hear if this article is accurate.

[Edited on 12-6-2023 by Santiago]

mtgoat666 - 12-6-2023 at 06:44 AM

Your link does not work.

But to your point, yes, valle de guadalupe is now a tourist trap. It was much nicer back in the 90s and before. (There are a few nice restaurants now, and weren't many in the beginning.)

Oh, well.

There are still nice places in baja. When you find one, don't tell anyone!



[Edited on 12-6-2023 by mtgoat666]

Ateo - 12-6-2023 at 08:09 AM

TikTok blew up Valle....

surfhat - 12-7-2023 at 11:58 AM

My first try and the article came through. Do try again.

I hope the specialness of the Valle can be preserved and those who try in their own way deserve our consideration and a visit.

Music concerts in the Valle? How about some peace and quiet to go with the world class cuisine and vino and the million dollar views over the vineyards?

That peace and quiet and mother nature's finest deserve respect, not loud music that carries for miles.

Concerts have their place in the cities where it is loud all the time anyway.

Acoustic concerts could work and not affect the neighbors quality of life.

My few times in the Valle were exemplary for the lodging, food, wine, and the quietude. I am hoping for more of that this coming winter.

There are so many new offerings, choosing one will be difficult.

Crossing South on PBS offers some great choices to keep in mind every week. Thanks Jorge. So do a few here who share their experiences. Please keep them coming.

Let's hope the Valle's best days are still to come through making the Valle a protected region of some kind that keeps the focus on preserving what makes it the special place it is.

The Valle's proprietors have the talent to know what should be done to preserve the future. Sometimes co-ops have their place.



bajaric - 12-7-2023 at 02:34 PM

The link worked for me, no paywall.

The county of Napa adopted a 40-acre minimum parcel size to preserve the agricultural nature of the valley. Also, no building on ridge lines, etc. That is why the Napa Valley is a world-famous destination and not just another suburb of the Bay area blanketed by condominiums.

They should preserve the rural, agricultural nature of the Guadalupe Valley in the same way, by adopting the effective and well enforced zoning laws that Mexico is known for. (sarcasm)

Don Jorge - 12-8-2023 at 11:48 AM

Quote: Originally posted by surfhat  
My first try and the article came through. Do try again.

I hope the specialness of the Valle can be preserved and those who try in their own way deserve our consideration and a visit.

Music concerts in the Valle? How about some peace and quiet to go with the world class cuisine and vino and the million dollar views over the vineyards?

That peace and quiet and mother nature's finest deserve respect, not loud music that carries for miles.


Sorry, but that Valle no longer exists. There is nare a place left in the Valle where the boom boom cannot be heard until the wee hours. I know the Valle well, very well. I go to the valle often to visit old friends but it is not the same peaceful place it once was and never will be..

I lived in el valle for 13 years in the 80s and early 90s. Back then we were tearing out hundreds of acres of old grape vines, mostly muscat and tempranillo. Domec and Cetto were only paying $40 per ton and mostly to make brandy.

The Russo landowners said f it f them and we rented hundreds of hectares from Santiago "Jim" Bibayof, Andres Samaduran, Hector Fuentes, Alex Samarin and others. We grew cucumbers, tomatoes, peppers and other vegetables where once were grapes.

Jim Bibayof was the first one to get the ball rolling on making good wine there. After we quit due to drought and salinity issues in the well water Jim rented his place to Monte Xanic founded by Hans Backoff. Hans was the first to really see the potential in the area for fine winemaking and after his success the valley began to see other vintners enter the scene. I believe Hans' son is the CEO there now.

Today the valley is a prime example of uncontrolled growth meets money laundering. Wonder about those high prices. Wonder why they are sold out and no-one is there. Hmmm.

Btw, that is the best article I have read on the Valley. Thanks for posting it. They bullet point many of the issues facing existing and further growth. Natalia is no doubt wondering wtf has happened here. Lots of us are.

Water water water is the gorilla in the room. I have seen what happens when the winter rains go on hiatus. The quantity and quality of all the water wells in the valley is severely compromised during droughts, except where Cetto has his place. That location is also where Ensenada pumps water from and they are both on the mother lode aquifer. Lots of sweet water in that part of the valley. Lets hope it keeps raining every winter or yikes.

Photo is from around 1988 on Bibayoff now Monte Xanic land.

valle.jpg - 90kB

Santiago - 12-8-2023 at 12:38 PM

Good post DJ, and good to see a perspective of someone who was there.