2026 Wine Tour of Guadalupe!

Everything on this trip is included in your ticket price: the bus ride, mimosas and pastries on the way to the Valle, all wine, beer, and food at our stops, snacks on the bus between stops, and tons of fun!!

Our Itinerary
This year we have a great lineup for our trip to "El Valle" including some new and interesting wine tasting experiences.

Our first stop will be at Rondo del Valle. This is a newer winery in the Valle and offers some innovative tasting experiences, including our tasting which will be in two parts. Part 1 is a winemaking tour and tasting of their white and rose wines, and part 2 is a blind tasting with their red wines. We will split the group in two and take turns so everyone will have both experiences.

Next we will head north past Francisco Zarco to one of the oldest wineries in the Valle, Domecq. At Domecq we will be treated to a custom tour of the caves, where we will sample various wines as we walk. The caves are full of thousands of bottles of old wine as well as a history of winemaking in the Valle. In addition to tasting Domecq's bottled options, we will be tasting from some of the barrels of wine in progress.

Our third winery has been in the Valle for many years, but they just opened their tasting room last fall. At Henri Lurton we will have a wine tasting accompanied with local bread and cheeses. This winery is a blending of Mexican terroir with French winemaking, and is a great representation of the Valle.

Finally we will visit a fourth venue TBD for dinner before heading back to the border and the park-n-ride.

Trip Details
First of all, the bus ride. We will all meet at the Park-n-Ride at Sweetwater Road in National City (off the 805) bright and early. This Park-n-Ride is about 10 minutes from the border, so once on board we will proceed directly there. As soon as we cross the border I will serve a light breakfast along with mimosas, and we will reach the first winery around 11am. I will also be serving food between wineries to make sure everyone has enough to eat. After dinner and by 7pm we will all re-board the bus for the drive back across the border and to the Park-n-Ride.

The bus is a luxury coach with a bathroom on-board, and in addition to breakfast I provide snacks, beer, and water. I just ask that you bring your own reusable cups as I will not have any disposable cups on-board. The bus company I use specializes in cross-border travel and its drivers are experts at the crossing. About one week prior to the trip, I will email detailed instructions to fill out your Mexican tourist card to be presented at the border crossing. You just need to have a valid passport (or passport card) to enter Mexico. (Note your passport only needs to be valid for the duration of travel; there is no six month requirement for entering Mexico.)

Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions, and I hope to see you on the trip!

I hope to see you there!

• Checklist:
• A VALID PASSPORT OR PASSPORT CARD IS REQUIRED TO ENTER MEXICO!! The passport only needs to be valid through September 19th.
• A Sentri or Global Entry card can be used to re-enter the US.
• Dress in layers. Temperatures can vary widely throughout the day.
• Wear comfortable shoes. We will be walking on gravel and uneven surfaces.
• California residents can bring only ONE bottle of wine back across the border.
• DON'T FORGET YOUR REUSABLE CUP FOR MIMOSAS AND WATER

Due to the complexity of organizing this event, there will be no refunds without a replacement. If you register and then determine you can't go, let me know via email at [leah.clark@ieee.org](mailto:leah.clark@ieee.org). If I can fill your spot from our wait list, you will be refunded less a $50 cancellation fee. If I can't fill your spot, you are welcome to sell your spot to a friend (they will need to sign the liability waiver).