Wine Valley

Valle Turns Up the Flavor With Viñadas 2025
 Articles, Ensenada, Wine Valley

Baja’s Hidden Wineries Shine in the Viñadas Celebration

Think Valle de Guadalupe is only wine tastings and sunsets made for Instagram? Think again. Behind the vineyards, there’s a network of entrepreneurs working to keep the valley alive and open for business.

Meet Emprendedores del Valle Guadalupe (EDVG), a civil association of more than 270 businesses. That includes wineries, cafés, hotels, restaurants, and yes, even hardware stores. Their mission is simple: push the valley forward with collaboration, events, and teamwork .

A Network Beyond Wine

Wine might headline the valley, but this group goes much further. They connect with UABC and CEVIT for studies on tourism and restaurant trends. They also stay close to local authorities, which helps members deal with permits and regulations.

Membership isn’t one-size-fits-all. Small businesses with fewer than ten employees pay a lower fee. Bigger operations contribute more. In return, everyone gets access to studies, support, and a valuable business network.

Viñadas: Events That Keep Flowing

Their star project is the Viñadas calendar. It spreads events throughout the year so visitors don’t just come in harvest season.

In 2024, the association hosted ten events. For 2025, the goal is fifteen. At the moment, they’ve already staged eight. The next stops are Indómito, El Cielo, Casa Entre Vés, and Don Tomás Viñedo .

Each event feels different. Some are cozy pairing dinners for 50 guests. Others explode into massive fiestas with music, food stalls, and almost a thousand visitors. Businesses decide if they’ll pour tastings, charge a fee, or just showcase bottles. The variety keeps locals and tourists guessing.

December will even feature a community Christmas parade across the three valley delegations. This time, the spotlight isn’t only for tourists. Locals will be invited to join in, proving the valley is more than a destination—it’s a living community.

More Than Bottles and Glasses

The association also tackles less glamorous work. Members pool money to patch potholes. They adopt stretches of road for cleanup. They even run a photography contest where shots from cell phones compete with professional cameras.

These projects may not sparkle like wine, but they keep the valley clean and inviting. They also remind locals that their home matters just as much as the visitor experience.

#Smiles, bottles, and a splash of Baja spirit—Vinícola Maglén brings its wines to the Emprendedores del Valle showcase.

Working With the Media

Unlike some groups that treat media like intruders, Emprendedores opens the door. They know promotion matters.

Unlike some groups that treat media like intruders, Emprendedores opens the door. They know promotion matters. As Karla, the group’s Public Relations lead who is always knee-deep in logistics and present at every event, explained: ‘If no one promotes our efforts, the impact is lost.

That mindset makes coverage easier and gives journalists a chance to tell the valley’s wider story. It’s a refreshing approach in a region that thrives on visibility.

Why It Matters

When most people think of Valle de Guadalupe, a few big-name wineries come to mind. Yet more than 200 smaller players wait in the wings. Many are family-run projects with fewer than ten employees.

EDVG wants these businesses discovered. They want more wines poured, more menus tried, and more stories told. By encouraging cooperation instead of competition, they make sure the valley doesn’t rest on just a handful of brands.

So next time you sip under the stars, remember: there’s a whole team behind that glass. From the Viñadas calendar to the patched roads beneath your car, Emprendedores del Valle de Guadalupe is quietly—and sometimes loudly—keeping Baja’s wine country fresh, fun, and worth coming back to.

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Valle de Guadalupe Pours Wine, Horses and Music in September
 Articles, Ensenada, Wine Valley

The Ultimate September Wine Festival in Valle de Guadalupe

A Valley That Knows How to Party

Ensenada doesn’t believe in half-measures. When this city decides to celebrate, it pours the full bottle, not a splash. This September, Valle de Guadalupe is lining up two festivals that mix wine, food, horses, and music into a heady cocktail. It’s all part of Viñadas 2025, the program that keeps the Valley buzzing year-round.

Organizers didn’t hold back at the press conference. They promised energy, flavor, and experiences that stretch beyond the glass. For locals, these events mean jobs and pride. For visitors, they mean late nights, long meals, and memories that usually start with, “I shouldn’t have had that last glass…”

Sombreros and Chardonnay at Limbo

The party starts on Sunday, September 21 at Limbo Hotel Boutique and Vinos 63. Tickets cost 400 pesos and include two tastings plus a commemorative glass. It’s the kind of souvenir you actually use, unlike that keychain from Tijuana you lost years ago.

Food is central. Think paella served steaming in the Baja sun, tacos with just the right salsa kick, and nibbles to keep your wine company. Grape-stomping contests turn guests into winemakers—at least until the juice splashes their best shoes. There’s even a contest for the boldest sombrero, because nothing says “I belong in the Valley” like a hat bigger than your torso.

The entertainment keeps things lively. Bachata rhythms push guests to dance off the carbs. Artist Antonio Proa will paint live, auctioning the finished work by sundown. The evening closes with Porfirio Siga performing under the stars. Wine, music, and sombreros—exactly the mix you didn’t know you needed.

Hats, Grapes and Bachata in the Valley
#Sip, stomp, and swing your sombrero this September 21 at Limbo Hotel Boutique. Wine never looked this stylish. 🍷👒

Horses and High Notes at Indómito

Barely a week later, the Valley saddles up again. On Saturday, September 27, Indómito Resort hosts the Feria del Caballo. This isn’t your local county fair with a tired pony and a funnel cake. It’s Lusitano horses from Portugal, riders who make dressage look effortless, and demonstrations of horsemanship that border on performance art.

Gates open at 12:30 p.m. Tickets cost just 100 pesos, covering exhibitions, food, wine, and access to the fair. At 4 p.m. there’s an inauguration ceremony. By 9 p.m., singer Majo Aguilar takes the stage. Her concert is free if you register online, though VIP tables up close sell for 8,000–10,000 pesos. Expensive? Maybe. Worth it to sip Syrah while she belts out rancheras? Absolutely.

Last year, about 3,000 people attended the Feria and 900 stayed for the concert. This year, with 50 sponsors and wineries like Barón Balché, Casa Luna, Don Tomás, and Casta de Vinos on board, expectations are higher than a champagne cork.

Horses, Wine and a Night with Majo Aguilar
#September 27 rides in with equestrian shows, fine wine, and live music at Indómito. Saddle up, Baja style.

Why it Matters?

Beyond the laughter and spilled wine, Viñadas is serious business. These events keep hotels booked, restaurants buzzing, and wineries thriving. Every visitor who stays one more night means local jobs, stronger businesses, and an economy that runs on more than just grapes. Viñadas is proof that Baja’s wine country is more than a weekend getaway. It’s a destination.

More Than Just a Weekend

Organizers want to stretch visits into longer stays. Their vision includes a Valle Christmas parade, a carnival, and community festivals that highlight local culture. Last year’s ten Viñadas drew 6,500 people. This year, they’re aiming for 13 or 14 events with more than 10,000 guests.

And yes, safety matters. Locals describe the Valley as calm, welcoming, and watched over by police, firefighters, and neighbors who still wave at passing cars. Their message is clear: bring the family, enjoy the wine, and leave your worries at the border.

The Big Picture

Viñadas 2025 is a full-bodied blend of wine, food, music, and culture. From grape stomps to flamenco, from tacos to Chardonnay, the Valley knows how to pour a good time. September in Ensenada isn’t just another month—it’s an invitation. Bring your sombrero, polish your dance moves, and let the Valley remind you that life, like wine, should always be enjoyed by the glass.

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 Articles, Wine Valley

Pier Collapse at Wine Valley Restaurant Sends Diners for a Swim

What’s the last thing you expect when you sit down for lunch at a winery restaurant? A sommelier who can actually pronounce “Gewürztraminer”? Maybe. But how about the floor beneath you collapsing and dumping you, your family, and the guacamole into a five-meter-deep artificial lake? That’s exactly what happened last month at Mawi Valle de Guadalupe—because apparently, “structural maintenance” wasn’t on the menu.

On July 12, four diners sat at one of Mawi’s so-called overhanging piers, which the restaurant markets as a signature attraction. Think Instagram backdrop: rustic wooden pier over calm water, perfect for showing off your wine glass. Except this one gave way, turning a casual day in the Valle into a scene from “Titanic,” minus Leonardo DiCaprio and with more floating salad.

The victims, including a woman identified on Facebook as Alina Kinoshita, went public after waiting a month for what they say was never-delivered help from the restaurant. In a post titled “VIVIMOS PARA CONTARLO!!” (We lived to tell it!!), Kinoshita detailed the chaos. Not only did they plunge into the water, but they were hit with collapsing tables, chairs, glassware, and bits of the pier itself. Two of the group couldn’t swim, forcing others to pull them to safety while waiters dove in like Baywatch extras.

The restaurant staff managed to rescue the group and even waded in to retrieve lost belongings. It took four hours to recover their phones, which were then lovingly buried in rice—because if Facebook has taught us anything, that’s how you fix a drowned iPhone. Spoiler: it didn’t work.

OFFICIAL STATEMENT TRANSLATION
In relation to a recent publication about an incident that occurred on July 12, 2025, we inform you that:
– From the very first moment, immediate assistance was provided to the people involved.
– Medical expenses, check-ups, and tests were covered.
– That same day, an agreement was signed with the parties, covering the total damages for $93,496 MXN.
Additionally, even after covering the amount agreed upon in writing, we continued to cover additional expenses that the person later submitted, always ensuring their well-being.
At Mawi Valle de Guadalupe, the safety and well-being of our visitors will always be our priority.
MAWI VALLE DE GUADALUPE

Kinoshita says the restaurant initially promised to cover medical expenses and damages. But after some handshakes and vague assurances, silence. The group claims ongoing physical and psychological damage, and they’ve taken their case to local authorities. So far, according to them, the owner has ignored official notices.

Mawi Valle de Guadalupe, for its part, released a very different version on Facebook this week. In their statement, they insist they’ve done everything right. They say they provided “immediate assistance,” covered medical bills and tests, and even signed an agreement that day to pay damages—93,496 pesos, to be exact. They also claim they kept covering additional expenses later on. In other words: case closed, nothing to see here.

Except the victims beg to differ. “We tried to settle at first, but they stopped answering us,” Kinoshita wrote. “Our health issues continue, and the trauma is irreversible. Thank God our kids and parents weren’t with us that day.”

And the internet has definitely taken sides. The viral Facebook post has racked up more than 7,000 reactions, over 1,000 comments, and nearly 9,000 shares. That’s the kind of publicity money can’t buy—and no restaurant wants.

The clash has become a full-blown he-said-she-said: the restaurant waving receipts and claiming generosity, the victims posting bruised photos and pointing to unanswered calls. Either way, the viral outrage has done more damage to Mawi’s brand than a one-star Yelp review could ever dream of.

Beyond the legal back-and-forth, the cautionary tale here is simple: be careful where you brunch. Instagrammable views don’t mean the wood beneath your feet is up to code. And if a pier is held together by “aesthetic rustic charm” instead of screws, maybe pick the table inside.

For the diners who fell in, the incident was terrifying. For the Valle restaurant scene, it’s a reminder that maintenance matters just as much as Malbec. And for the rest of us, it’s another reason to check twice before posting that perfect #ValleVibes shot.

Because you never know—next time your wine flight might come with an unplanned swim lesson.

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