Monday, June 9, 2008

Wine, Music and Food Festivals in Baja California, Mexico

 

'Vino-Tourism' by Steve Dryden

 

Welcome to this year’s schedule of Wine Country events taking place in Baja California, Mexico during the month of August. I suggest that you purchase tickets ASAP as most of these events sell out very rapidly – in fact, you have to move fast to get the best and most desirable events. For tickets or information contact the Association of Wineries by telephone (Ensenada) [52] 646-178-3038, or via the Internet at fiestasvendimia@hotmail.com or www.fiestasdelavendimia.com.

·   Thursday July 31st at 9:00 a.m.: INTERNATIONAL SEMINAR OF VITIVINICULTURE held at the Hotel Coral y Marina in Ensenada. COST: $35.00 Dlls. Note: this first opening event always sells out!

 

·   Friday August 1st at 8 p.m.: 18th Annual WINE EXPERIENCE. A presentation of the wines, labels and vintages of Baja California, music, food tasting and art held at the Centro Cultural Riviera/Riviera del Pacifico in Ensenada. COST: $30.00 Dlls.

 

·   Saturday August 2nd at 8:30 a.m. is a golf tournament, “Four man scramble,” with wine tasting at each hole, exquisite food sampling, award dinner with prizes, raffle & auction. Held at Real del Mar Golf Club, Km. 19.5 near Rosarito Beach. COST: $150.00 Dlls.

 

·   Saturday August 2nd at 9:00 a.m. will be the 16th INTERNATIONAL WINE CONTEST "ENSENADA LAND OF WINE," where professional judges select the best wines in the competition; held at the Hotel Coral y Marina in Ensenada.

 

·   Saturday August 2nd at 9:00 a.m. WINEMAKERS VISITS: The winemakers host visitors at their wineries to taste and describe their wines; held at various wineries.  COST: $35 Dlls.

 

·   Saturday August 2nd at 1 p.m. WINE and LOBSTER, with lunch in their San Antonio vineyard, Puerto Nuevo-style lobster and a wide selection of award-winning Santo Tomás wine; held at Rancho San Antonio Km. 95 Ensenada-Tecate highway.  COST: $75.Dlls.

 

·   Saturday August 2nd at 5 p.m. will be the ROUTE OF ART, featuring tapas, music, art and wine, held at Jardín las Veredas en el Valle de San Antonio de las Minas, Free!

 

·   Saturday August 2nd at 6:30 p.m. is the GALA DINNER held at the Adobe Guadalupe Winery in Valle de Guadalupe. COST: $100.00 Dlls.

 

·   Saturday August 2nd at 7:00 p.m. will be SONGS AND WINE IN TECATE, featuring  a sunset concert at the foothills of Sacred Cuchumá Mountain, music by the INNUENDO group from Mexicali, accompanied by hors-d' oeuvres and Barón Balché wines. Held at Parque del Professor. Calle Prolongación Cuchumá in Tecate, COST $50.Dlls

 

·   Sunday August 3rd at 1:30 p.m. will be COUNTRY LUNCHEON held at Vinícola Viña de Liceaga, San Antonio de las Minas. COST: $60.00 Dlls. (No children please) Note: I attended this event last summer and it was incredible!

 

·   Sunday August 3rd at 6:00 p.m. is a SUNSET CONCERT at our vineyard in Valle de Guadalupe where we present works from the classical repertoire, accompanied by fine cheeses and house wine. Held at Monte Xanic Winery, Valle de Guadalupe. COST: $75 Dlls. Note: You can’t miss this event, it’s awesome every year and the wine is superb!

 

·   Sunday August 3rd at 7:00 p.m. will be A NIGHT IN CASA DE PIEDRA with music, wine, and superior entertainment and hospitality. Held at the Casa de Piedra Winery, Carretera Tecate-Ensenada, Km. 93.5 San Antonio de las Minas. COST: $120 Dlls.

 

·   Monday August 4th at 6:00 p.m. is another fabulous SUNSET CONCERT at Monte Xanic Winery and vineyard in Valle de Guadalupe, They’ll present works from the classical repertoire, accompanied by fine cheeses and house wine. Held at Monte Xanic Winery, Valle de Guadalupe. COST $75 Dlls.

 

·   Tuesday August 5th at 4:00 p.m. will be the event - NOT TO MISS as CAVAS VALMAR Winery  CELEBRATES IT’ S 25TH ANNIVERSARY!  Pairing dinner from Cavas Valmar-Restaurant Caprichos, featuring a flight with the best vintages of the winery and traditional French cuisine. Held at Restaurante Caprichos, Ensenada, B.C. - directly across from the original Hussong’s Cantina. Don’t miss this event!  COST: $70. Dlls. Limited seating!

 

·   Tuesday August 5th at 7:30 p.m. will be MUSIC AND SEMINAR featuring wine tasting, accompanied with fine cheese and hors d'oeuvres, held at the Club Campestre Tijuana, B. C. COST: $40.00 Dlls.

 

·   Wednesday August 6th at 10:00 a.m. will be a free conference on history, tourism and wine legislation held at the Centro Cívico y Cultural Riviera del Pacifico, Ensenada. FREE.

·   Wednesday August 6th at 6:00 p.m. is the MALAGON FAMILY CELEBRATION offering a splendid Horse Show, live music with Latin jazz and mariachis, and Mexican and American wine tastings. Held at Viñedos Malagon, Calle Sexta #75, Ejido Francisco Zarco. COST: $90. Dlls

 

·   Thursday August 7th at 6:00 p.m. is COME TO OUR WORLD OF WINE held in natural gardens with a special musical concert of Jazz/Mariachi fusion, interpreted by the Las Vegas singing Shadan. Includes a gala dinner featuring El Olivo Restaurant "The Flavor of Colors," accompanied by anniversary wineries. Held at Jardín Las Veredas, San Antonio de las Minas. COST: General $100 Dlls. - VIP $125 Dlls.

 

·   Thursday August 7th at 6:30 p.m. will be SINERGY featuring an amazing presentation of wine and food pairing with music and contemporary art. Held at the fabulous B&B Las Villas del Valle, in Valle de Guadalupe. COST: $110 Dlls.

 

·   Friday August 8th at 6:00 p.m. is a presentation of gourmet food from Barra Azul Restaurant and three artisan wines, held at the Museo Histórico Regional de Ensenada.  COST: $50 Dlls.

 

·   Friday August 8th at 5:30 p.m. will be JAZZ AT EL MOGOR. This is always a fun time in a natural setting with great hosts! Jazz concert with house wines and Mediterranean empanadas held at Mogor Badan Winery. COST: $50 Dlls.

 

·   Friday August 8th at 6:30 p.m. will be A NIGHT OF TRIOS - Romantic music under the stars, with the music from one of Baja California's best trios. Will be having representatives from Mexicali, Tijuana and Ensenada performing the rhythm of old melodies and we will serve our collection of four different wines Accompanied by a five course dinner. Held at EMEVE Winery at Camino a San Jose de la Zorra. Ejido Porvenir. COST: $70 Dlls.

 

·   Friday August 8th at 6:30 p.m. is THE SOUND OF VINISTERRA - This is always an excellent event with superb hospitality and entertainment. Pairing of food, wine and music presented by the Culinary Art School from Tijuana. Held at VINISTERRA winery in San Antonio de las Minas. COST: $85 Dlls.

 

·   Friday August 8th at 8:00 p.m. is VIÑAS PIJOAN - MANZANILLA ENCOUNTER offering tasting of Pijoan Wines with tapas from Manzanilla Restaurant. This is a great match of gourmet food and premium wine! Held at the Restaurant called Manzanilla, in downtown Ensenada, COST:  $80 Dlls

 

·   Saturday August 9th at 9:00 a.m. will be WINEMAKERS VISITS II. The winemakers host visitors at their wineries to taste and describe their wines. Held at various wineries. COST: $35 Dlls.

 

·   Saturday August 9th at noon is TAUROVINOMAQUIA. An incredible event of bullfighting fiesta with the star from the Tauromaquia featuring music, food and house wines, and celebrating the 120th anniversary of Santo Tomas Winery. Don’t miss this event! Held at the Rancho San Gabriel, San Antonio de las Minas Km. 95 Carr. Ensenada - Tecate. COST: $100 Dlls.

 

·   Saturday August 9th at 1:00 p.m. will be II WINE EXHIBITION IN TECATE - Regional wines exhibition, cheese hors d'oeuvres, and artisan bread from Tecate. Held at the stunning and gourmet deluxe Restaurante Asao, Tecate, B. C. COST: $35 Dlls.

 

·   Saturday August 9th at 4:00 p.m. is one event you should not miss! RUSSIAN MEMORIES: Russian theme with music, food and wines. Held at Rancho Toros Pintos, San Antonio de Las Minas or Vinicola Bibayoff Winery. (Please, no Cold War spies!) COST: $55 Dlls.

 

·   Saturday August 9th at 5:00 p.m. is VINALIA RUSTICA - A rock, reggae, food and wine event held at Vinícola Tres Valles, San Antonio de Las Minas. COST: $50 Dlls.

 

·   Saturday August 9th at 7:00 p.m. is "PARALELO," held at Vinícola Paralelo, Valle de Guadalupe near Cetto winery. COST: $80 Dlls.

 

·   Sunday August 10th is VELADA ITALIANA EN VILLA MONTEFIORI -Opera concert with Italian cuisine.  Held at Vinícola Villa Montefiori, Toros Pintos, Ejido El Porvenir. COST: $100 Dlls.

 

·   Sunday August 10th at 1:00 p.m. is ENSENADA SE VISTE DE VINO - This event is about bringing together the wineries and the city in a family party with food of the local restaurants, new and small wineries and some of the traditional wineries, live music for everyone, tasting and conference of some wineries. Held at Av. Ruiz - entrance at 1st and 2nd in Zona Centro. FREE.

 

·   Tuesday August 12th at 6:00 p.m. will be NOCHE DE COFRADÍA EN ENSENADA - Wine and food pairing contest, featuring the best restaurants and the best wineries. Held at Puerto de Cruceros de Ensenada. COST: $45.00 Dlls.

 

·   Wednesday August 13th at 7:00 p.m. will be the 12th WINE EXHIBITION IN MEXICALI - Tasting of selected wines accompanied with hors d'oeuvres, music, art and wine topic lectures. Held at Centro de Convenciones of the Centro Estatal de las Artes de Baja California, Mexicali, B. C. COST: $35 Dlls.

 

·   Thursday August 14th at 4:00 p.m. is CELEBRATION IN THE VALLEY offering a traditional fair with games, music, food and wines from different wineries. Held at the Parque de Ejido El Porvenir. FREE.

 

·   Thursday August 14th at 6:00 p.m. is FESTIN DE QUESOS - an event featuring regional cheese and wine held at Vinícola Viña de Liceaga, San Antonio de las Minas. COST: $40.00 Dlls.  (No children please)

 

·   Thursday August 14th at 6:00 p.m. will be FESTIVAL DE LA VENDIMIA Y TANGO - A special event showcasing The Glamour of Tango and the Passion of Wines along the Seashore.  Held at Rosarito Beach. No other details - please call.

 

·   Friday August 15th at 6:30 p.m. is A DELIGHTFUL SUMMER EVENING IN TECATE - Seven gastronomic sensations, featuring premium wine from seven wineries along with a seven course dinner. Wines from Adobe de Guadalupe, Monte Xanic, Roganto, Santo Tomas, Tanamá, Valmar, and Vinisterra. Held at Restaurante Asao in Tecate, just before the border crossing. COST: $85 Dlls.

 

·   Friday August 15th at 7:00 p.m. is TANGO AND WINE, PASSION AND ART - Promoting the glamour of tango and the passion of wines in a single place. Held at Vinícola Barón Balché Winery, Valle de Guadalupe. COST: $100.00 Dlls.

 

·   Friday August 15th at 7:00 p.m. is UNION DE PRODUCTORES - a presentation of wine, gourmet products and artisan goods. Held at Escuela de Oficios del Porvenir. COST: $50 Dlls.

 

·   Friday August 15th at 7:30 p.m. is MEXICAN DELIGHTS IN VALMAR WINERY - Celebrating their 25th anniversary featuring a gourmet dinner with a variety of delicious Mexican dishes, paired with the best house wines, along with music to listen and dance to. Held in Ensenada at Vinícola Cavas Valmar Winery. COST: $45 Dlls. Note: This is always an awesome event with great people and memorable events!

 

·   Saturday August 16th at 9:00 a.m. will be WINEMAKERS VISITS III - The regional winemakers host visitors at their wineries to taste and describe their wines at various wineries. COST: $35 Dlls.

 

·   Saturday August 16th at 2:00 p.m. will be the world famous SANTO TOMAS STREET FAIR - Celebration in a street fair with numerous artistic expressions, games, music, food and house wines. FREE. Note: Best carnival-type party of the Year! Held at the Bodegas Santo Tomás, Ensenada.

·   Saturday August 16th at 7:30 p.m. is TANGO AND WINE, PASSION AND ART -promoting the glamour of tango and the passion of wines in a single place. Held at Vinícola Baron Balché in Valle de Guadalupe. COST: $100.00 Dlls.

 

·   Saturday August 16th at 7:00 p.m. is ROMANTIC SUNSET featuring a romantic music concert with "Dulce and Carlos Cuevas," with house wines and hors d'oeuvres. Held at Chateau Camou Winery, Valle de Guadalupe. COST: $160 Dlls.

 

·   Sunday August 17th - The acclaimed 17th PAELLA COOKING CONTEST - Note: Sells out almost immediately - get your tickets NOW! A country contest for cooking rice-paella style, sampling of paella and wines, dancing and music. Held at: Rancho San Gabriel, San Antonio de las Minas. COST: $35 Dlls.

MexiData.info note: For a map to the Baja California wineries, go to Better Roads Offer Easy Access to Mexico’s Wine Country (MexiData.info, May 12, 2008)

 

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Steve Dryden, a MexiData.info guest columnist, writes about wine, food, travel, Native Peoples, and history.  He lives in the Guadalupe Valley of Baja California, Mexico, where he guides private wine tours for individuals and small groups.