While most visitors to the Valle de Guadalupe come for the wine and food, there’s a cultural side of the famous wine region that can be found in the few small museums in the valley. If you’re looking to learn more about the history and peoples of the region or more about the winemaking process, take a break between wine tastings to check out one of these museums.
Museo de la Vid y el Vino
To learn a bit about the history of wine and the Valle de Guadalupe, stop in at the Museo de la Vid y el Vino. There’s thorough information about the providence of wine and modern winemaking. The large, new facility also features an art gallery, garden, and outdoor amphitheater. All of the information is in Spanish, but the museum usually has a tour guide available who can walk you through the museum (for free) in English.
Mexico 3 Km. 81.3
tel. 646/156-8165
9am-5pm Tues.-Sun.
Admission US$3
www.museodelvinobc.com
Museo Ruso
Not many people know that the Valle de Guadalupe was heavily influenced by a group of Russian Molokans who settled in the region in the early 1900s when fleeing the Bolshevik Revolution. The descendants of these settlers are still in the region today and there’s a small Russian museum, Museo Ruso where visitors can get a guided tour of one of the old Russian adobe houses and learn more about the history and lives of this group of Russian immigrants. For a tour of the museum, inquire at restaurant Familia Samarín, which is located on the same property and offers some traditional Russian dishes on their menu and has a small gift shop with some local and Russian items.
Calle El Tigre #276
10am-4:30pm Wed.-Mon.
Admission 25 pesos
www.facebook.com/rfamiliasamarin
INAH Museum at Misión Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe del Norte
The last mission founded in both Alta and Baja California was the Misión Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe, founded in 1834. Dominican Padre Felix Caballero oversaw the mission until his death (a possible poisoning) in 1840. The last of the missions on the peninsula closed down by 1849. Not much is left of the Valle de Guadalupe mission, aside from the ruins of the foundation walls, which have been developed into a historical park. However, there’s a small but well-done and informative museum run by INAH on the property that is definitely worth a visit. The museum touches on the history of the region and the influence of the native Kumeyaay, the Russian Molokans, the Mexican ranchers, and the Spanish missionaries. Displays are in both Spanish and English.
GPS: 32.091869, -116.575224
Just off of the El Tigre paved road in the town of Francisco Zarco.
Park and Museum open 9am-5pm Wed.-Sun.
Free Admission