At a glance
- Founded
- 1972construction of the winery, though it has bottled in Mexico since 1963
- Winemaking
- Alberto Verdeja
- Grapes
- Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Nebbiolo, Chardonnay, Viognier, Chenin Blanc and 1 more
- Style
- classic blends · barrel-aged reds · white blends
- Visits
- By appointment
- Hours
- Monday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. · see hours
The house
Editorial review · reviewed on October 11, 2026Guadalupe Valley had Domecq before it had wine routes, hotels, or restaurants. The house, originally from Jerez, has bottled table wine in Mexico since 1963, with labels such as Calafia, and in 1972 it built its winery on a spot it called Valle de Calafia. It presents itself as the first large-scale winery in the area.
Château Domecq came out in 1978 and became the benchmark wine of the house. Winemaking is led by Alberto Verdeja, who has renewed the classic lines, such as XA and the Château itself, without breaking the style that made them known.
The white-walled building holds an underground cellar with about 22,500 bottles. In 2018 the spaces were renovated to open a museum that tells the story of Mexican wine from the arrival of the missionaries, with original pieces from 16th-century Spain, and a terrace with a view of the sierra.
Tours are booked in advance, and the winery closes on Tuesdays. The Emociones tour, for example, tells the story of the Domecq family, goes down to the cellar, passes through a sensory room, and ends with four classic wines of the house. Starting here makes sense: the museum gives context, the production floor shows the scale of a large house, and afterward the work of the small wineries that came later is easier to understand.
The wines
Blended wines in a classic, food-friendly style. The emblematic red joins Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Nebbiolo with a year in French oak. The whites mix Chardonnay with Viognier, or Chenin Blanc with Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc.
Red
Château Domecq Tinto
Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Nebbiolo
At least 12 months in French oak barrels. The label was born in 1978.
White
Château Domecq Blanco
Chardonnay, Viognier
A blend with time in barrel.
White
XA Blanc de Blancs
Chenin Blanc, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc
Red
XA Tinto
Cabernet Sauvignon
Grapes it works with
- Cabernet Sauvignon
- Merlot
- Nebbiolo
- Chardonnay
- Viognier
- Chenin Blanc
- Sauvignon Blanc
What to taste
Château Domecq Tinto: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Nebbiolo with a year in French oak, bottled since 1978 and a bronze at the 2020 IWSC.
Why go
The museum with pieces from 16th-century Spain, the underground cellar of about 22,500 bottles, and a tasting of the classics at a winery built in 1972.
Awards
- BronzeInternational Wine and Spirit Competition (IWSC) · Château Domecq Tinto2020
The visit
Receives visitors by appointment. Reservations are required.
Offers:ToursTastingsShop
Tastings and tours
Hours
- Monday10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- TuesdayClosed
- Wednesday10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Thursday10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Friday10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Saturday10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Sunday10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Tour and shop hours according to the house. Tours are by reservation only, so check ahead.
Hours are subject to change. Confirm with the winery before your visit.
All tours are booked in advance. The winery closes on Tuesdays.
Amenities
- Museum
- Terrace
- Wine shop
Getting there
Carretera Tecate a El Sauzal (the Tecate to El Sauzal highway), km 73.1 marker, Valle de Guadalupe
Carretera Tecate a El Sauzal km 73.1, Valle de Guadalupe, Ensenada, B.C. · Get directions ↗ (opens in a new tab)
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