Valle de Guadalupe - So Many Wines, So Little Time

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I have been to the Valle of Guadalupe before but on a quick afternoon tour with a teacher.  I just checked the blog history and it was in 2009.  Wow, things have changed now with the museum and over 100 different wineries.

La Cetto is our favorite label and has a very long history, 90 years, in Baja California.  The name is actually L.A. Cetto.  The L.A. are the initials of the Luis Angel and the children and grandchildren alike have two first names that are L.A.  They have some very mature vines and continue planting.  

The next tour was at 2 p.m. so we had about 30 minutes on our own.  150 pesos for the tour and a tasting of two white and two red reserve labels.  We had a blast looking at all of the wines and of course, they sell gifts as well.  So much wine, you could just have it all day long and never get tired of so many different grapes, processes, tastes, and aromas.

Reading labels and finding some wines we have never tried.  

Our tour started right outside the door as the trucks were pulling up loaded with grapes.  To the left of the picture are giant steel vaults filled with grapes.  A giant crane picks up one end of the container and the grapes begin to fall into the macerator.  They go up the conveyer and as they enter the macerator the grapes are squeezed and the skins separated from the juice.  Some of the skins will be used in the wine process depending on what they are producing.

Moises, on the left with the baseball cap, was our tour guide.  He studied to be a chef and is now learning about wines.  Very knowledgable and able to answer any questions.  No one said much but we asked quite a few questions.  Good thing because there is so much to learn about the grape.

A look at the vineyards and an explanation of how grapes are grown.  Each row has a rose bush on the ends.  That draws the critters to the roses and away from the grapes.  The size of the truck determines the age of the vine.  There is only one short rainy season in Baja and the water is collected in underground tanks and is used throughout the rest of the year via a drip process.  Good soil, lots of sunshine and constant pruning.

To think that something so simple as a grape can bring so much pleasure to people through drinking a glass with friends, a good book, a cold night or a great meal.  

Kegs, barrels, and types of wood are also part of the process of winemaking.  Mostly oak is used.  

The best part of the tour.  Moises showed the group everything from holding a glass to cleansing the palate, oxygenating your mouth as well as the glass and checking the content or tears on the glass. We have done this many times before and one of the last times was with Lindsey and Dustin in Nova Scotia.  Always a good memory attached to our trips.   Many people in the group weren't wine drinkers but I think by the end of the tour they had gained a little appreciation for wine.  Our favorite wines from La Cetto are; cabernet sauvignon, nebbiolo, and petit sirah.  

Doña Lupe was founded in the 60s.  Good wines, lesser-known but they have a very good nebbiolo that is known for its chocolate flavors.   We had quite a bit of wine there as they serve you cheeses, bread, and more at no charge.  They have a large selection of wines and other products.  Their wines are quite expensive and we weren't sure why.  Mostly high schoolers working there, they did a good job but couldn't answer a lot of questions.

We also visited Sol de Medianoche.  This vineyard had some interesting wines, for us, not very well developed.  Also, like Doña Lupe, they were into selling other grape related products and have restaurants.  Not a very nice place but apparently they pack in the crowds on weekends.  I think mostly partiers.  

Overall, the experience was fantastic.  We wish we could do it for a week and we just might.  There are a few primitive campgrouds in the area as well and it would make a fun week.