CREATE UNFORGETTABLE MEMORIES ON THIS GUIDED BAJA CALIFORNIA PREMIUM WINE TOUR!
Sit back and enjoy the ride as we guide you and your taste buds through a mouthwatering exploration of Baja California's Valle de Guadalupe, Mexico's premier wine region. This expertly curated all-inclusive tasting tour will feature award-winning premium handcrafted wines, local artisan cheeses, cold-pressed organic olive oil, and farm-to-table regional cuisine from one of the region’s top rated campestre-style eateries overlooking the vineyards. Baja Test Kitchen tasting tours are designed for wine and food enthusiasts, and we've done all the planning and logistics work for you!
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ITINERARY: VISIT THREE OF MEXICO'S BEST BOUTIQUE WINERIES + GOURMET LUNCH - FEBRUARY 2ND*
8:30-8:45am: Meet your bilingual culinary guide and driver at the designated meeting point on the US side of the US-Mexico border in San Ysidro, California (the San Diego to Tijuana border crossing). It's an easy drive to the meeting point, or take public transportation (San Diego Trolley), taxi, or Uber (additional pick-ups in Baja, north of Ensenada, available by appointment - see below for details).
8:45-9:00am: Cross the border on foot with your guide through Mexican Immigration and Customs to our well appointed tour vehicle waiting on the Mexico side of the border.
9:00-11:00am: Drive to the Valle de Guadalupe, Mexico's Wine Country (stop for restrooms as necessary).
9:15-10:45am: We’ll make stops en route to Valle de Guadalupe to pick up additional tour participants as necessary (we can generally accommodate pick-ups in Central Tijuana, Playas de Tijuana, Rosarito Beach, La Misión, North Ensenada, Valle de Guadalupe, and nearby surrounding areas - see below for details).
11:00-12:30pm: Winery Stop #1 - As you take in the expansive morning views of the Valle de Guadalupe, you’ll enjoy a complete tasting flight of premium handcrafted wines while noshing on local artisan cheese and farm-to-table tapas; we’ll take you behind the scenes for a tour of the winemaking facilities at this state-of-the-art boutique winery, and you’ll learn about the fascinating history and unique methodology of Mexican winemaking.
12:30-1:00pm: Drive to boutique winery #2
1:00-2:00pm: Winery Stop #2 - Out on a country dirt road we’ll find our second boutique winery that is well hidden from the hustle and bustle of the Region and you’ll appreciate why you selected BTK as your guide; here you’ll enjoy another premium wine tasting flight and you might even start feeling a little tipsy, but don’t worry, lunch is next and we are doing all the driving! In addition to tasting more of Mexico’s best wines, you’ll explore unique architecture, take a selfie or two with friends, and get wrapped up even more in the Baja California wine movement as you learn the important differences between small-batch and large-scale winemaking.
2:00-2:30pm: Drive to Lunch
2:30-4:00pm: Gourmet Lunch Stop - Sit down for a curated campestre-style gourmet lunch served "al fresco" overlooking the vineyards at one of the region’s top rated outdoor eateries; our expert knowledge of the local culinary movement will shine through as you taste from multiple dishes that truly represent the best of Baja California gastronomy; with Baja Test Kitchen as your culinary guide, your dining experience is sure to be one of the memorable highlights of your trip (curated multi-course tasting menu with share plates served family style; non-alcoholic beverage included; local wine & beer available for extra purchase; blankets available if it's chilly).
4:00-4:30pm: Drive to boutique winery #3
4:30-5:30pm: Winery Stop #3 - Finish the day with yet another complete wine tasting flight of award-winning wines at a modern boutique winery with historic roots that specializes in high quality small-batch wines; this small family winery is located on the site of a historic winery and brandy distillery right in the middle of a working olive ranch, and most people don't know about this hidden gem right in the middle of the Valle de Guadalupe! Take a behind-the-scenes guided tour of the historic winemaking facilities, and climb the old distillery tower stairs to discover one of the Valle's most exclusive views.
5:30-7:00pm: Tummy full, and pleasantly buzzed, sit back and enjoy the picturesque drive back to the border in Tijuana, Mexico (interim drop-off stop(s) en route to border and stop for restrooms as necessary; your guide will drop you off directly in front of the entry to the pedestrian border crossing where you will cross by foot back into the U.S.).
7:00-7:30pm: After clearing U.S. Immigration and Customs, walk back to your car parked in San Ysidro, California, or catch the San Diego Trolley, taxi, or Uber (while most of our groups usually experience just 10-20 minute crossing times, your arrival time in San Ysidro is highly dependent on the actual border wait time on the day of your tour, which may vary - BTK has no ability to affect actual border wait times).
*This is a sample itinerary; after paying to confirm your participation, you will receive an email with your actual itinerary including links to the wineries and restaurant you will visit; Baja Test Kitchen will select the wineries and restaurant for your itinerary, noting that we only work with Mexico’s top boutique wineries and the region’s best farm-to-table restaurants; special requests cannot be accommodated for public group tours; times are approximate and vendors may be substituted on the day of your tour based on their availability.
$189 - BOOK THIS CULINARY EXPERIENCE NOW
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PRICE & BOOKING INFO
$189 per person - purchase now below. Space is limited. Inquire for group discount for six or more people. Price is per person. Book early to confirm your participation - our tours are reserved and confirmed on a first-paid basis, and often sell-out well in advance. When scheduling conflicts occur, priority is given to the customer who pays first. This culinary tour can accommodate vegetarians and pescatarians, but is not advised for strict vegans. Our scheduled public tours are not appropriate for bachelor/bachelorette parties - please book a private tasting tour for your wedding celebration group. BTK tours are 100% non-smoking/non-vaping. Tours run rain or shine. Must be 18+ years old to participate - minors will not be allowed to participate. Participation requires a valid passport and if applicable, a valid multiple-entry U.S. Visa or U.S. Resident Card. Consult our full Payment Terms & Conditions before purchasing.
WHAT'S INCLUDED
All food and beverage as described in the itinerary above: visit three of Mexico's top boutique wineries and enjoy a complete premium wine tasting flight at each winery; nosh on select artisan cheeses and cold-pressed organic olive oil at one winery; and enjoy an expertly curated multi-course gourmet lunch overlooking the vineyards at one of Mexico's chic campestre-style eateries (curated multi-course tasting menu with share plates; wine and craft beer available for additional purchase at lunch) | Round-trip transportation in a well appointed air-conditioned tour vehicle from our designated border meeting point, with additional pick-ups available in Baja, north of Ensenada | Your bilingual culinary guide is a knowledgable ambassador of Baja California's culinary scene | All itinerary times above, except the start time, are approximate, and vendors may be substituted based on their availability | Tour guide gratuity is not included
WHAT WE LOVE ABOUT THIS TOUR
When you know where to go, you’ll find that Mexican wines from the Valle de Guadalupe are as good as the top wines from Napa, Sonoma, France, Italy, Spain, Argentina, Chile, and Australia. Of course every region has its winners and losers, so we’ve taken all the guesswork out of the equation… this expertly curated wine + gourmet food tour features full-flight wine tastings at three of the best boutique wineries in Mexico, as well as a multi-course gourmet lunch at one of the region’s top rated campestre-style restaurants where you’ll dine “al-fresco” overlooking the vineyards. Tastings at the wineries you’ll visit on this premium wine tour are by advanced appointment only, which means the owners of these wineries really care about the quality of your experience. Our guests are typically greeted by owners and staff with “bienvenidos, es su casa,” which translates to “welcome, this is your house.”
WHY CHOOSE BAJA TEST KITCHEN?
When it comes to wine tasting experiences, you really do get what you pay for… Our intimate tasting tours max out at 14 tour participants per tour vehicle, so you know you’ll receive personalized service and attention from your BTK gastroguide. Living and working in the region, we’ve invested years into developing personal relationships with the owners of the top boutique wineries and restaurants, and since we only work with partners where the owners are part of the day-to-day operations of their businesses, you’ll experience their gracious hospitality and feel the sincere warmth of their personalities shine through to every aspect of your experience. Finally, we are storytellers, and we believe your tasting experience will be uniquely enriched when you know the stories behind this emergent winemaking and culinary movement… while other operators drop you off at the front door to let you fend for yourself, our bilingual gastroguides are with you every step of the day, translating where necessary, making recommendations as requested, and more importantly, sharing with you all of the interesting tidbits, secrets, and anecdotes that make for a rich and colorful experience. Read what past customers have to say about their experience with BTK.
TOUR DEPARTURE LOCATION & ADDITIONAL PICK-UPS
For participants joining this tour from the U.S., you'll meet your culinary guide on the U.S. side of the border at our designated border meeting point in San Ysidro, California (the San Diego to Tijuana border crossing). It's an easy drive to this border meeting point (with paid secure parking nearby), or take public transportation (San Diego Trolley), taxi, or Uber. Additional pick-ups en-route to the Valle de Guadalupe are available for participants staying north of Ensenada (we can generally accommodate pick-ups at your hotel or house rental in Central Tijuana, Playas de Tijuana, Rosarito Beach, La Misión, North Ensenada, Valle de Guadalupe, and nearby surrounding areas).
TAKE NOTE BEFORE BOOKING & PAYING
This public group tour will run as scheduled when four or more paid participants are registered for the tour. While most of our tours sell out in advance and will run as scheduled, in the rare case that less than four paid participants register for the tour, we reserve the right to cancel your tour reservation with 72-hours written notice (via email), in which case we will issue a full refund of your tour fees. Every tour participant must be at least 18 years old and carry a valid passport. Everyone in your group must agree to and sign the Baja Test Kitchen Participation Agreement (release of liability) at least three (3) days prior to departure. Please read our FULL Payment Terms & Conditions and Tour Policies before purchasing this tour. Your payment for this tour constitutes your full acceptance of the Terms, Conditions, and Tour Policies found on the Baja Test Kitchen website. Once paid, there are no refunds for this public group tour and rescheduling is subject to the policies and provisions for rescheduling found in our Payment Terms & Conditions. Failure to arrive at the designated meeting point on time will constitute your cancellation without refund, credit, or rescheduling allowance. This tour is not available for bachelor or bachelorette parties; wedding celebration groups must make separate arrangements to reserve a private tour vehicle (additional conditions and costs apply to private tours).
BOOK THIS TASTING TOUR NOW
Before purchasing this tour, see important booking notes above.
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WHAT OUR CUSTOMERS SAY…
TRIP ADVISOR CERTIFICATE OF EXCELLENCE AWARD FOR 2017 & 2018!
“It was just what you’d want if you were to explore a new region.. someone who is enthralled and bilingual and eager to share his experience but just happened to be smart and educated and friendly and had gone before, come back and pounded on your front door saying “hey, you gotta see this, come check this out with me.” Wow, it was fun!”
Karen (far left) with her friends on tour with BTK, exploring one of the Valle's unique lodging options.
“As a Travel Advisor, I would recommend Baja Test Kitchen to any of my clients in a heartbeat and have full confidence that they would have the best time... Their selections for our itinerary, the relationships they have with everywhere we went, and their knowledge of the Valle de Guadalupe far exceeded our expectations.”
Chelsea, a travel advisor and blogger from Austin, TX loves taking photographs, especially of great food! Chelsea and her mother took a wine and culinary tour with Baja Test Kitchen in May 2017, and she now recommends BTK to all of her clients. Click image to read Chelsea's full review on her "Passport To Friday" website...
READ MORE REVIEWS WRITTEN BY OUR CUSTOMERS ON TRIP ADVISOR, YELP, FACEBOOK AND GOOGLE.
$189 - BOOK THIS CULINARY EXPERIENCE NOW
BOOK A PRIVATE TOUR INSTEAD
VIEW PAST TOUR PHOTOS
READ CUSTOMER REVIEWS
GROUP QUOTE, COUPON OR GIFT CERTIFICATE REDEMPTION, JOIN WAITING LIST IF SOLD OUT, & MORE INFO REQUEST FORM...
Groups of 5 or less, please purchase this tasting tour above. If you have a coupon or gift certificate code, if you are a group of 6+ paying together on a single invoice, if this tour is sold out and you'd like to join the priority waiting list, or for more information about this group tasting tour on February 2nd, 2019, please complete and submit the inquiry form below before making your purchase...