The Best Wine Tasting in Mexico: 5 Regions Worth the Trip
Where to go wine tasting in Mexico, from Valle de Guadalupe to Parras and Querétaro, with the wineries to book and when to visit.
Mateo Herrera
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Key Takeaways
Valle de Guadalupe is the top pick. Baja California produces around 70% of Mexico's wine, and the valley is about two hours from Tijuana.
Casa Madero has the history. The Parras estate dates to 1597 and is widely considered the oldest winery in the Americas.
Querétaro is the easy weekend. Its wine and cheese route is two and a half to three hours by car from Mexico City.
Go during harvest. Baja and Parras hold their harvest festivals in August, and central Mexico's season runs from June into October.
Where to Go Wine Tasting in Mexico
Mexican wine goes back to the 1500s, when the Spanish planted vines across New Spain soon after the conquest. Today the wineries worth a visit sit in a few distinct places: the Baja coast, a desert oasis town in Coahuila, and the highlands of central Mexico.
The five regions below are ranked on how many good wineries you can reach in a day and how easy the trip is to make.
1. Valle de Guadalupe, Baja California - Best Overall
Less than an hour's drive from Ensenada and roughly two hours from Tijuana, Valle de Guadalupe is the center of Mexican wine. Baja California produces around 70% of the country's wine. Monte Xanic, founded in 1987, is often called Mexico's first boutique winery. Vena Cava, built partly from recycled boat hulls, is known for natural wine and pours tastings by reservation.
Best for: First-time visitors and anyone who wants several tastings in one day.
When to go: August, during the Fiestas de la Vendimia.
2. Parras de la Fuente, Coahuila - Best for History
In 1597 the Spanish crown granted land in Parras for growing grapes, and Casa Madero traces its start to that grant. It's widely considered the oldest winery in the Americas. The estate sits at the Hacienda San Lorenzo, a few minutes' drive outside town, and offers cellar tours and sommelier-led tastings. Parras is a Pueblo Mágico, about 1.5 to 2 hours by car from Saltillo.
Best for: Travelers who care about the history as much as the wine.
When to go: August, for the Feria de la Uva y el Vino.
3. Querétaro's Wine and Cheese Route - Best Weekend From Mexico City
The Ruta del Arte, Queso y Vino runs through Tequisquiapan and Ezequiel Montes, two and a half to three hours by car from Mexico City. Finca Sala Vivé, the Freixenet México estate, is the best-known stop: a sparkling wine producer with an underground cellar 25 meters deep. Viñedos La Redonda, founded in 1975, and De Cote are both nearby, and the Peña de Bernal monolith is less than an hour away.
Best for: A short trip from the capital, especially if you like sparkling wine.
When to go: June to mid-September, with most wineries holding their harvest festivals in July and August.
4. San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato - Best Paired With a City Stay
Cuna de Tierra, about an hour's drive north of San Miguel, just past Dolores Hidalgo, calls itself Guanajuato's first winery, and its Torre de Tierra observation tower stands among the vines. Dos Búhos, just outside town, is a family-run organic winery. Both fit into an afternoon, so they're an easy add-on to a few nights in one of San Miguel's hotels.
Best for: Travelers who want wine country without giving up a walkable colonial town.
When to go: August to October, during Guanajuato's harvest season.
5. Aguascalientes - Best Under-the-Radar Pick
Aguascalientes is one of Mexico's smallest states and its fifth-largest wine region, with vineyards at about 2,000 meters. Hacienda de Letras, a hacienda dating from 1854, makes 18 varieties of wine and offers vineyard tours and cellar tastings. It's a good next trip for anyone who has already done Baja.
Best for: Repeat visitors looking for a region they haven't tried.
When to go: July to September.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the best wine tasting in Mexico?
Valle de Guadalupe in Baja California has the most wineries and is about two hours by car from Tijuana. For history, Casa Madero in Parras is the pick, and for a short trip from Mexico City, Querétaro's wine and cheese route is the easiest.
When is the best time to go wine tasting in Mexico?
Late summer, during harvest. Baja's Fiestas de la Vendimia and the Parras grape and wine fair both take place in August, and Querétaro and Guanajuato hold harvest events from June into October. Our guide to the best time to visit every region of Mexico covers weather by region.
What is the oldest winery in Mexico?
Casa Madero in Parras, Coahuila. It dates to 1597 and is widely considered the oldest winery in the Americas.
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