Are you ready for a new wine-tasting exploration? Drive less than 70 miles south of the border between California and Mexico and visit the numerous vineyards just north of Ensenada. Or when cruising the Pacific coast of Baja, make sure you choose this excursion at the Ensenada port.

I had the pleasure of visiting two of the numerous boutique wineries in this area during Columbus Day weekend. What a delight! Our first stop was at the beautiful Vinisterra. It boasts some delicious reds using tempranillo, syrah, grenache, cabernet sauvignon and merlot grapes, with eight options in all. My favorite was the Cascabel but I understand there is an even better vintage that is no longer available for tasting. We enjoyed the beautiful new tasting room, a tour of the barrel room and grounds of this small winery that began only 10 years ago.

Our next wine-tasting visit was to Liceaga Vineyards where they have a large tasting room that includes a nice deli platter to accompany your wines. Our private driver/guide recommended lunch at Hacienda de Guadalupe and for good reason. Our leisurely three-course lunch was graciously served on the large verandah with expansive views of the Guadalupe Valley. We decided to try their ceviche before our first course of soup or salad and we were glad we did even though we didn’t need to add to the quantity of food served. It was a delicious and well-priced meal with great wines regional from which to choose, so we opted for L.A. Cetto.

We rounded out our day by visiting the new wine museum. This is an interesting chronological history of wine throughout the ages, leading to how wine-making began in Mexico. This cluster of valleys is home to about 80 wineries that are responsible for 90% of the wine consumed in Mexico. They also export to 30 countries. The marine climate is conducive to growing a number of grape varietals, but production is limited due to a shortage of water in the area. All in all, this wine region is worth a visit.