Baja California Wine Region

The Baja California Wine Region is situated in Northern Baja California (Baja California Norte).  Currently, ninety percent of Mexico's wines are produced in this region.  Its main wine valley is the Guadalupe Valley (Valle de Guadalupe).  Most of Baja's wineries are located within this valley, which is about a two hour drive from the US-Mexico (San Diego-Tijuana) International border.

© 2004 THE WINE APPRECIATION GUILD
THE WINES OF BAJA by Ralph Amey

Northern Baja Wine Production

1791

in 1791, the Mission of Santo Tomas (Misión de Santo Tomás de Aquino) was founded by Jesuit priests in the current, Northern Baja California, Santo Tomas Valley (Valle de Santo Tomás).  As was the case with all mission lands, vineyards were planted and wine was produced for the priests religious services. 

1834

In 1834, Dominican priests founded Baja Califonia's last mission (Misión de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe del Norte) in the current Guadalupe Valley.

1857

In 1857, after Mexico's War of Reform, all church properties were expropriated by the Mexican government.  In the same year, the Mission of Santo Tomas lands were sold to a local entrepreneur who renamed them "Rancho de los Dolores".  Soon after, he began producing wine commercially from the lands vineyards.

1888

In 1888, the land and accompanying vineyards were sold once again, this time to two Ensenada businessmen, with which they founded Bodegas de Santo Tomás - which today is Baja's oldest continuously operating commercial winery.

1972-Present

In 1972, Baja California's first modern commercial winery was founded in Guadalupe Valley.  Originally named Vides del Guadalupe, Casa Domecq is currently the second largest wine producer in Mexico.  In 1974, Vinicola L.A. Cetto was founded in the same valley across from Casa Domecq.  L.A. Cetto is currently the largest commercial winery in Mexico.  Some of the commercial wineries that followed include Vinos Bibayoff (early 1970s), Casa Valmar (1983), San Antonio (1986), Mogor-Badan (1987), Monte Xanic (1988), Chateau Camou (1991), Vina de Liceaga (1993), Casa de Piedra (1997), Adobe Guadalupe (2001), Rincon de Guadalupe (2001) and Vinisterra (2002).

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