Top 10 Vineyards in Valle de Guadalupe

By: Arnulfo Manriquez

Viña Emiliana

In Viña Emiliana you can find my favorite wines of Valle de Guadalupe, the Nebbiolo Reserva, and the MANCAB (Cabernet Sauvignon). The winery is not very big, but the view of the mountains is beautiful while tasting the wine.

They also have a Bed & Breakfast separate from the vineyard, which is also of outstanding value and centrally located. Miguel and Laura are very knowledgeable about their wines and the process and are always willing to sit down and talk to you about everything to do with wine.

Magoni

When looking for the best Nebbiolo wines in the Valle de Guadalupe, I was referred to Magoni, where you can find a good Nebbiolo at a reasonable price. But what makes this vineyard one of my favorites, starting with the wines, is the giant tree estimated to be 400 years old, where you can enjoy the afternoon listening to live music with Ilse McCarthy on Sundays. You have the wines, the ambiance, and the tree, with about 3-4 little dogs visiting your table.

Emevé

It’s always fun here. Emevé has delicious wines. My favorites are Los Nietos, Cabernet Sauvignon Reserva (which they only have in magnum), and Armonía de Tintos, a wine you can drink every day. Brenda from Emevé knows a lot about wine and can explain and tell you all about their wines.

The atmosphere is fun on Saturdays from noon onwards. You can eat some dried meats with cheese, and they even have a very lovely Emevé t-shirt and wines from Mexico.

Adobe Guadalupe

My favorite wine is Rafael, a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Nebbiolo, their wines are named after archangels, but they have started to bottle wines with other types of names. Make a reservation to taste wines in the cellar in advance. The vineyard has a Food Truck, and they also sell craft beers. Ask them to tell you the story of how they started the vineyard. There is also a Bed & Breakfast in the vineyard.

Torres Alegre

With a beautiful view of the mountains to the north, you can start your tasting day with any of their wines here. However, the famous Nebbiolo Cru Garage is only available by the bottle but is highly recommended. The 2013 was very popular but sold out; only a few of the 2014 are left, equally recommended. The tower has lovely views, and the workers know their wines very well.

Pijoan

A small vineyard but with some vibrant wines, one I always buy by the bottle is the Collage Tinto (Cabernet Sauvignon, Nebbiolo, and Syrah), but their Leonora, a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot) is also another one I like, and as I can only cross one at a time, it can always take effort to decide. You can order your cheese board and taste wines overlooking their vineyard and the center of the Valley.

Monte Xanic

This vineyard is more extensive, and they ask for reservations to enter, and it is worth it. They have all kinds of wines, and I recommend tasting all of them to get to know them well, as each palate is different.

There are two areas in the vineyard for tasting, and my favorite is next to their lake; in November/December, it is full of ducks from the north. My favorite wine here is the Gran Ricardo Cabernet Sauvignon; they also have several lovely whites.

Sol y Barro

I just got to know this vineyard, but I like how they experiment with their grapes. The one that caught my attention was their blend of Grenache and Cabernet Sauvignon reds, something unexpected but a flavor that I am still tasting—a very simple vineyard with a lot of character.

Hilo Negro

My favorite is the ZigZag, a blend of Nebbiolo and Syrah, a full-bodied wine. I like to taste this wine in their Emat restaurant, inside the vineyard, where you can enjoy views of the vineyard and el Valle. But what I love here is the combination of the wines, the view, and the food at the restaurant with Chef Eduardo Salgado‘s delicious dishes.

Viña de Garza

I am learning more about Viña de Garza’s wines, but I liked the ones I have tasted. They have a nice view where you can taste their wines, and there are other vineyards nearby that you can get to know. Of their wines, the ones I like the most are the Tinto del Rancho Mogorcito, a Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot blend, and the 2 km/h blend of Tempranillo and Grenache.

All of these vineyards are located throughout the entire Valle de Guadalupe.