Harvest Time in Baja’s Wine Country

After a long summer, the grapes are ready to come off the vine. Baja California is celebrating with the 23rd annual wine harvest festival, Fiestas de la Vendimia. Vendimia is celebrated across Baja’s robust wine country with the majority of events set in the picturesque wineries of the breathtaking Valle de Guadalupe, and additional events in Ensenada, Tijuana and Mexicali.

Every August, the buzz swells in Baja California, Mexico as tourists and chefs descend upon wine country for two weeks of harvest and an all out celebration of wine. Gourmet pop up restaurants, seminars, galas, the annual paella contest, and of course, plenty of delicious drinks keep the masses sated and swirling as the region caps another stellar harvest. This year, 13 outdoor grills (campestres) will be setting up shop and events will be held every day from August 1 through the 18 to celebrate Baja wine, food, and culture. Don’t want to miss anything?  No problem. Here’s a sampling of what’s in store:

Thursday, August 1

IX International Seminar of Viticulture at Hotel Coral and Marina, $15

Seminars on wine production and vineyard management.

Friday, August 2

Inaugural Wine Sampling at the Riviera del Pacífico Social, Cultural, and Civic Center, $37

Join more than 40 regional wineries accompanied by distinct local restaurant food samplings.

Saturday, August 3

Wine and Music “In the Clouds” at Las Nubes Winery, $100

House wine and dinner by guest chef Javier Plascencia, accompanied by jazz and blues music.

Sunday, August 4

Picnic at Liceaga winery, $26

Traditional picnic in a vineyard setting with music by Grupo Chokolate.

Wednesday, August 7

Wine pairing dinner at Laja Restaurant, $38

Featuring special guest Chef Daniel Ovadia, live music and friends.

Thursday, August 8

Baja California Culinary Expressions presentation at Hacienda Guadalupe, $92

An afternoon with live music and food samplings unique to the region, wine by Melchum y D’Poncelis.

Next, more havest festival fun…

Friday, August 9

‘Día Sagrado’ celebrations at Hacienda La Lomita, $152

Food pairing with chefs Mikel Alonso, Gerard Bellver and Jair Tellez with Singular 2011 wine presentation.

Saturday, August 10 

Sunset Pijoan wine tasting at Sarmiento Restaurant, $84

Enjoy the sunset by the beach while sampling six Pijoan wines and 24 tapas by chefs Guillermo Barreto, Tania Livier, Nicole Pederson, and Angel Vazquez.

Sunday, August 11

Gypsy Luck, Love and Wine at Liceaga Winery, $61

Featuring live music by Grupo Innuendo and dinner by chef Cesar Dario Cruz of Nigori.

Tuesday, August 13

Ensenada Wine Guild evening at Cruise Port Village, $69

Featuring 34 wineries paired with 34 Ensenada, Tijuana, Mexicali, and San Diego restaurants.

Thursday, August 15

“From the Orchard to your Table” wine pairing dinner at Finca Altozano restaurant, $137

Featuring chef Javier Plascencia and wines from North 32 and G Salinas.

Wine pairing, tag and vintage presentation at Viñas de Garza winery, 6 p.m.

Featuring guest Chef Drew Deckman, local Chef Juan Antonio Hussong, and an acoustic music show by Decima Musa $14 

Saturday, August 17

Vena Cava Winery Vendimia fiesta at Hotel la Villa del Valle,  $175

Cocktail and dinner by top chefs Enrique Olvera, Guillermo Gonzalez Beristain, and Diego Hernandez Baquedano.

Next, the best of pop up restaurants and how to get tickets…

Make sure to save some time to visit the outdoor grills and pop up restaurants that set up shop in Baja for the the campestre season – when notable chefs show up to dish out their best bites to complement the region’s wine. Be sure to check out:  Javier’s Plascencia’s Finca Altozano, Benito Molina’s Silvestre (near Domecq Winery), Drew Deckman’s Deckman’s en El Mogor (at Mogor Badan), El Encino en Laja by Jair Tellez, Miguel Angel Guerrero’s outpost of L.A. Cetto, and Roberto Alcocer’s Malva Restaurant in San Antonio de las Minas.

With more than 50,000 tourists and visitors roaming the streets of Baja, events (and hotel rooms) sell out fast. For event lists and ticket information, click here and get yours soon!