When Frank said that it was worth checking out the Baja ( pronounced Baha ) wine region I thought he was talking Northern California. No , he meant Mexico , and not flying but driving through Tijuana ( the murder capital of the world , not joking ) and then another two hours on to a city called Ensenada . 
The picture above says enough ,but this is Ensenada .Lawlessness is monitored , big time ! Still , there’s a thriving and embryonic wine region here that is meant to attract families , adventurers and wine connoisseurs;shit I hope these guys keep it safe . Eventually we hit the roads to check it it out .
With Captain TA at the wheel we navigated out through barren , crusty old hills that belonged to an old Clint Eastwood style jalopy Western . With a military presence at the start of the wine route , you are reminded that this place could get pretty remote . Out the back blocks of no where ,small dusty tracks and then larger driveways appeared . It sorted of reminded one of Palm Springs with its rocky outcropped hills and mountain ranges with dry , super dry scrubby terrain littered with bouldered ravines , and in there comes the source of our need , vines . All in the middle of nowhere … in Mexico , who could believe it ? 
Who could’ve foreseen that 40 years before we were all kids living in a housing commission estate ( projects) without the slightest clue that we’d be tasting wine in a far flung valley in a Mexican hillside , but here we are .
Fake Cuban cigar and all , why not ?
The place above , El Cielo Valle De Guadeloupe was a high end establishment that asked $22 US for just 3 very small tastings , it’s fair to say we skipped that and just bought a bottle . The place was packed with well dressed Hispanics who were obviously very wealthy for this part of the world . It was a shock to see a grand place like this well off the beaten track . We were probably the worst dressed there …. no matter , we made ourselves at home .
Next , we back tracked to a much more relaxed joint , tucked into the foot of the hills with a beautiful outlook over the valley below , unfortunately I’ve forgotten its name , but check these pictures out below 
We followed it with another place that had an amazing building as its centre piece 
We tasted the wines but weren’t impressed, instead settling for a beautiful cold pale ale and coffee that bettered the best I’ve tasted in the US and is comparable to Australian coffee , that was a shock . We all looked at each other and asked how that can be possible ? In fact Ensenada has a lot of coffee houses with a few that pleasantly surprised…… I’m still not sure why the US drink such horrible coffee when just over the border in poor old Mexico they have got it pretty right …. yeah I know , I can’t leave that alone . 
Today we went on a wine tour , self driven , in the Baja of Mexico , 4 uncouth Aussie blokes …….. we had a ball .
aussiehowieinla 