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This is a 1-stop family weekend playground. The zoo area includes camels, tigers, flamingoes and more. There are several pools, a splash pad, and a shallow wading pool for the tiniest tots. Palapas with picnic tables and barbecue grills. No alcoholic beverages allowed.
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The tasting room on La Ruta Vino opened in 2014 but Don Camillo Magoni has been making wine in the Guadalupe Valley for more than 50 years. Magoni began his career at the LA Cetto winery before starting his own vineyard. Today he grows on over 270 acres planted with more than 100 grape varietals. Some of his wines stem from his Italian roots, including a delightful Viognier and a Flano blend, called Manaz.
Large, modern winery producing over 60,000 cases per year. The main tasting room includes a covered outdoor tasting deck with comfortable seating amid a rustic natural setting. A more intimate waterfront tasting area can be reserved by special request. A large number of varietals are grown, with Chenin Colombard and Cabernet Sauvignon among the oldest, most mature vines. The wines have earned an international reputation for quality with more than 260 awards received in competitions since their first vintage in 1986.
Museo Comunitario Ruso del Valle de Guadalupe
Between 1904 and 1906, 350 Russians from the Caucasus region, settled here, and began cultivating wheat, barley, vegetables, and wine grapes. They were fleeing the Russo-Japanese war and seeking to freely practice their religion, which was Christian but unorthodox. The museum offers an overview of the migration, foundation and daily life of the Russian colony in Valle de Guadalupe.
The vineyards are actually operating on other days, but are usually booked for events and large tour groups. You can sometimes arrange to get in by calling ahead. The winery is an interesting place because they are very small (producing only about 300 cases per year) and because they focus on the Tempranillo varietal. When you sample their wines you will probably be doing vertical tastings of different years of the Tempranillo.
This small, unpretentious winery will delight travelers who enjoy getting off the beaten path and finding hidden gems. The winery includes a full-service spa and cabanas that can be rented for overnight stays. Located in the foothills along dirt roads, it takes a bit more effort than the wineries clustered on the main highways. Founded in 2006, Quinta Monasterio produce about 7,500 cases annually. The standard tasting session includes a mix of varietals and blends as well as an accompanying cheese platter. Blends include Renata, a blend of Chardonnay and Zinfandel, and Cosecha, a young blend of Cabernet, Tempranillo and Syrah.
Stay in the old hacienda lodge, take a horseback ride of the estate, dine in the patio restaurant, and taste the estate wines. Volume: 7,000-8,000 cases/year, wine tasting: M$200-M$300, Groups of 4 to 20 require reservations