Viñedo En’kanto: A Charming Vineyard Bed and Breakfast in Valle de Guadalupe
Weekend trips to wine countries are popular— Temecula, Napa, and Sonoma. But in the last decade, the popularity of Mexico’s Valle de Guadalupe has exploded. Only an hour-and-a-half drive south of the US border is Mexico’s biggest wine country. The Valle encapsulates the best combination of quality wine, farm-to-table Mexican cuisine, good weather and a laid-back Baja vibe. It’s much closer to LA than Napa Valley, but still under radar and offers great value as a weekend trip.
In addition to good wines, Valle de Guadalupe also has excellent accommodations among the vineyards. In our recent trip to Valle, we stayed for a week at Viñedo En’kanto. If you want to get a taste of life on a working vineyard, Viñedo En’kanto is the place! In this blog is my full review of this charming bed and breakfast!
There’s a whole culinary and five-star luxury accommodation scene to explore in the Valle. But what we love most about being south of the border is the sense of adventure and the authenticity of being in an undeveloped farm country: dirt roads, fruit stands, livestock pens, traditional Mexican home-style kitchen,…So when it comes to looking for a place to stay, we always prefer something more low key and less commercial. If you are like us who are more into authentic experience, you would love Viñedo En’kanto.
Viñedo En’kanto took our breath away. The whole place felt so natural and authentic. You feel a sense of community and family at En’kanto that is both welcoming and humbling. Our soul was nourished by the richness of this wholesome place.
Owners Eva and Tom have spent 16 years building out the property, adding multiple sections of accommodations spread over the sprawling 24 acre property. This intimate bed and breakfast consists of just five units with tasteful décor; thus providing only a small selection but create an intimate atmosphere with no disturbances and lots of peace and quiet.
Guests who opt to stay here have the opportunity to book either a Romantic Cabana or a 2-story Private Casita. Either way, guests will get to enjoy gorgeous scenery!
We arrived at our Romantic Cabana to a beautiful setting with a welcome bottle of En’kanto natural wine, delicious local pastries, heartfelt notes, fresh fruits from their orchards, and little surprises here and there. The owners made sure we had all the comforts of a home with tasteful extra touches.
Our cabana has traditional Mexican architecture throughout; elegant and tradition are met in this ranch-style hacienda design. In a world where we are surrounded with modern minimalist structures, it’s rare to have the opportunity to vacay in a traditional Mexican style home with warm earth tones, vibrant accents, and cultural richness.
The cabana with its stucco walls, terracotta roof tiles, and exposed wooden beams reflects the natural landscape but also creates a warm, inviting atmosphere. The large windows facilitate ample natural light, air circulation, and the sweeping views of mountains and vineyards.
All cabanas are located steps away from the vineyards and feature a king bed, mini fridge, coffee maker, dining area, in-suite sofa, TV with Netflix, and a private patio.
And one thing we love most about our room is the luxurious spacious bathroom with soaking tub that opens into the suite! It’s obvious that the property owners spare no expense on its luxury offerings.
The patio area has comfortable lounging chairs and fire pit! Offering infinite mountains and vineyard views, it’s our favorite spot to enjoy a coffee with the sunrise or play some music with the sunset (one complimentary bundle of firewood included with your stay).
Each day we woke up to a hot cup of coffee, a dip in the pool, then set off to enjoy home-cooked Mexican breakfast under the shade of beautiful Elm trees at the Deck.
If you ever wondered what a traditional Mexican breakfast looks like, then breakfast at the Deck is an absolute must. One of the most beloved aspects of Mexican cuisine is breakfast and here at the Deck the staff takes it very seriously. From chilaquiles to huevos rancheros each dish is bursting with colors and flavors.
The Deck is set within a lush garden, completely open air, making you feel like you’re eating in nature. From our table we can see their herb garden with the scent of rosemary, basil, thyme, and mint making our mouth water while the friendly staff get our order ready. And we can see the chefs prepare our meal right in front of us from the open kitchen.
We love their traditional huevos rancheros with red salsa made from their delicious farm-fresh eggs. They also offer exceptional Sangria made with En’kanto wine and citrus from their orchards.
Even if breakfast is not your thing, you should stop by for their wood-fired oven pizzas and authentic Argentina empanadas. Their garden-inspired breakfast and lunch menu truly exhibits farm-to-table dining at its finest!
Viñedo En’kanto invites guests to visit for an intimate wine tasting experience, unlike any in the valley. When you are here, from the moment you step foot on the vineyard, you are welcomed as family. As you sit around a long table, Felipe (the wine maker) passionately describes the wine making process, from caring for the vines to understanding how certain elements impact the flavor of the wine.
Spending time with a winemaker, the conversation goes beyond the ordinary. Felipe’s stories are endless and his charisma is addicting!
After a week slow living on Viñedo En’kanto , this place felt more and more like our home away from home. Viñedo En’kanto taught us to adopt a more relaxed mindset and a deep appreciation for human connection. Instead of spending our time hopping between wineries and restaurants, we dedicated our time here getting to know the people, the property, and stories behind it.
We got to know our chefs, Katia and Dannia. Katia makes the best traditional Mexican breakfast dishes and Dannia is an expert in crafting beautiful cocktails. Waiting for us at our table every morning was our beloved Beto. Beto’s cheerful smile instantly brightens up our day and his knowledge of wildlife (as a biologist) never fails to fascinate us. Every meal at the Deck just inspires free flowing conversation and admiration of the beauty of food (food in its most natural states, from herbs and fruits grown in their own garden).
And Eva, our host, is always full of energy. Eva spends her days planning out the most exciting activities for her guests like organizing a Petanca tournament and hosting a blind wine tasting party.
One thing you’ll adore about En’kanto is their extended selection of on-site activities including orange picking from their orchards, strolling through their vineyards, picnicking under the shade of palm trees, and taking a dip into the pool overlooking the beautiful vineyards.
If you only have time to visit one place in the Valle, make that one place En’kanto. En’kanto gives you something that’s increasingly hard to find: the feeling that you’re visiting one of the last untouched places in the Valle. Here you enjoy life’s simple pleasures of good wine, fresh farm foods, good people, and culture.
***Thank you to Viñedo En’kanto for kindly sponsoring this post. All opinions are 100% honest & completely my own.
SAVE THIS POST FOR LATER!
