Experience the beauty of Valle de Guadalupe at El Cielo Resort & Winery

I had not visited Mexico’s famed Valle de Guadalupe wine region in years, so when invited to visit El Cielo Resort & Winery, I looked forward to the experience. Cielo means “heaven” or “sky” in Spanish, fitting words to describe this beautiful resort, tucked between mountain ranges, dotted with olive trees, and surrounded by 86 acres of verdant vineyards. The luxury property includes an expansive winery, tasting areas both inside and out, and a subterranean enoteca where our group enjoyed a six-course tasting menu paired with award-winning wines. There are two restaurants including Polaris, serving Mexican specialties for breakfast and brunch, and the signature Latitud 32, which now features a Baja-Yucatán fusion menu that includes fresh seafood and meat, as well as vegetables and fruit from the resort’s own organic gardens and orchards. The restaurant, helmed by Chef Francisco Fernandez, was featured in the inaugural Mexican Michelin Guide. 

El Cielo even has a lovely, consecrated private chapel, Chapel Nuestra Senora de Los Milagros, “Our Lady of Miracles,” the setting for weddings and religious ceremonies including a weekly public mass. The Equinox Terrace is an expansive, outdoor venue, and there are many gardens and other spaces around the property for more intimate celebrations. 

I especially liked the accommodations. A boutique hotel, El Cielo offers 95 suites and villas housed in two-story residences. The presidential villas, which can accommodate six guests, include living rooms, kitchens, and dining rooms. Other villas feature ground floor master suites that open onto terraces with firepits or second floor junior suites with balconies. Each is elegantly furnished and offers mountain and vineyard views.

Founded in 2013 by Gustavo Ortega Joaquin with Dolores Lopez Lira and José Luis Martinez, the eco-conscious winery grows 15 varieties of mostly certified organic vines. Led by winemaker Jesus Rivera, El Cielo produces two dozen labels — rosé, red, white, and sparkling wines — many of which have won gold medals in major competitions. 

Guests can borrow a bicycle or rent a golf cart for self-guided tours of the property. I enjoyed touring the vineyards in a shaded wagon with a knowledgeable guide, pausing between rows of grapevines to learn about viticulture and sip different varietals. El Cielo’s falconer introduced us to a Harris’s hawk, which shoos grape-eating birds and other critters from the vineyards. Afterward, our group learned about the alchemy that transforms grapes into wine in the vast, state-of-the-art subterranean winery. The resort offers casual tastings in the barrel room, with more formal tastings featuring flights of prize-winning vintages led by wine educators.

Our group capped our trip with a visit to Muestra del Vino, the grand opening event for the annual three-week wine festival held each August in Ensenada during the vendimia, or harvest season. We joined the huge crowd gathered at the historic Riviera del Pacifico building to sip a wide range of varietals and sample light bites from dozens of regional chefs and restaurants. This year’s festival runs from July 30 to August 17.

After a breakfast of sweet bread, fruit, Mexican-style scrambled eggs, and chilaquiles the next morning at Polaris, we exchanged warm good-byes with the hospitable, knowledgeable staff and headed home to Southern California. I plan to return very soon to this “heaven on earth.” 

TRAVEL TIP: Instead of driving yourself, consider booking private transport with Las Lomas, El Cielo’s private, luxury transportation company. We parked at the Border Station Parking Lot in San Ysidro where our driver picked us up for the two-hour drive to the Valle. On the way, we stopped in for lunch in Puerto Nuevo, the iconic seaside lobster village with more than 30 restaurants serving buttery, grilled lobster with warm tortillas, beans, cilantro, and salsa. We ate our fill at La Casa de la Langosta, one of the oldest lobster houses, perfectly paired with a crisp chardonnay and light rosé from El Cielo Winery.