Every once in awhile, we write about a “soul spot” in this blog. A place or location or business that has translated into quality of life for us. The kind of spot that just does it for you. That offers a great experience but is not trendy or on the mainstream grid. That is comfortable but not glossy to the detriment of making it more difficult to soak up the new environment. That draws you in because it is authentic and quality.
We’re not trying to be cool and tell you about places we’ve been. Just sharing some quality of life related experiences which for us includes coming across these kinds of places. [Needless to disclaim, we don’t benefit at all from any places we mention.]
Valle Guadalupe is the wine region of Mexico. It’s located about 60 miles southeast of San Diego and about a two hour drive from the border. With the recent upswing in crime in the Tijuana area, it is optimal that you reach Valle Guadalupe through the Tecate crossing, a few border crossings east of Tijuana.
Valle Guadalupe is a place of amazing physical beauty. The land is dry and perfect for growing grapes. It is hot and dry during the day, but because it is 15 miles from the Pacific, its mornings and evenings are cool.
The best part of the region is the people. The community embodies the term simple/sophisticated. You have some of the nicest winemaking facilities in the world. The winegrowers and enologists come from the most prestigious schools in France. The wine at Adobe Guadalupe, run by Americans Don and Trudy Miller, is some of the best we’ve had. One of the local chefs at a favorite local restaurant Laja used to work at Julien’s in New York and the Four Seasons in Mexico City. They are all drawn to the beauty of the region, the quality of the wine and the fresh local seafood and produce.
And yet among all this sophistication, the local winery, restaurant and inn owners prefer to keep the area undeveloped.
Hugo Acosta, perhaps the best known local winemaker, puts it best. “Bad roads, good tourists.”