Located in the northern half of Mexico's Baja California peninsula, the state of Baja California boasts unforgettable sea and landscapes as well as world class wine and cuisine, providing unique experiences for all travelers. With a plethora of harvest season celebrations and exciting entertainment hosted across the state, late summer and early fall in Baja California are ideal times to experience the region's vibrant culture and burgeoning wine and culinary outposts.


Oenophiles can taste their way through Valle de Guadalupe, Baja California's wine country that is home to 150 wineries across several valleys including San Antonio de las Minas, Ojos Negros, Santo TomAs, San Vicente, La Grulla, TanamA, Las Palmas, and San Valentin. With a Mediterranean-like climate favorable for grape cultivation, the region produces exceptional varietals including tempranillo, cabernet sauvignon, chenin blanc, and sauvignon blanc. Roughly 75 percent of wine and 17 percent of craft beer produced in Mexico comes from Baja California.


Each year, harvest is honored during Fiestas de la Vendimia, a multi-week celebration featuring festivities held across the region. Recognized as the largest Harvest Festival in Latin America, this popular event unites the region's best wineries, internationally acclaimed chefs and Mexico's finest restaurants for 25 days of wine tastings, gourmet pairing dinners, world-class competitions, concerts, galas, and more to mark the beginning of a new wine production season. Highlights this year include:


  • La Bacanal Vol. 1 (Monday, August 11, 5:00p.m.): At Bruma hotel and winery, travelers can partake in an enthusiastic celebration of delicious food and wine during La Bacanal. The gathering calls together some of Mexico's best chefs as well as delicious wines from the Valle. Eating, drinking and dancing are encouraged at this unforgettable celebration.
  • 135th Anniversary of Bodegas de Santo Tomás Winery (Friday, August 18, 5:00p.m.): This year marks the 135th anniversary of Valle de Guadalupe's first winery, Bodegas de Santo TomAs. During the anniversary events, guests can sip and discover the winery's impressive history and achievements, including naming Mexico's first female winemaker, Laura Zamora.
  • Paella Contest (Sunday, August 20, Noon to 7 p.m.): The most anticipated event of the summer, the Paella Contest serves as the Harvest Festival's grand finale. Rooted in local Ensenada traditions and designed for the entire family to enjoy, the event features 84 winemakers offering tastings of over 160 wine labels, alongside a spirited competition among 80 teams vying for the coveted title of "Best Paella." Tickets are available at USD$86 for teens and adults, with free admission for children aged 12-years-old and under.
  • Casa Veramendi 10th Anniversary (Saturday, September 16, 4:00pm): To honor its 10th anniversary, Casa Veramendi winery, located in Tecate, will host a dinner and wine pairing party with dancing and a special spiritual blessing from the Kumiai indigenous tribe. The Kumiai community was a group of hunters, gatherers and fisherman that inhabited regions along the present-day Baja California border region with the U.S., and today much of the tribe has maintained its traditional heritage.


Easily accessible by car from San Diego, California, Baja California's world-renowned restaurants, wineries, craft breweries and numerous outdoor activities such as camping, hiking, surfing, cruising, sailing and deep-sea fishing, guarantee an unforgettable adventure at every turn. For more information, please visit www.bajacalifornia.travel.