Viñedos Don Juan
Viñedos Don Juan, named after its gregarious founder, is a small family-run winery in the Valle de las Palmas less than 40 miles north of Valle de Guadalupe in Baja California. Located at the heart of the small town of Francisco Zarco, Viñedos Don Juan produces wonderful grapes thanks to its mineral rich soil and an arid climate. The presence of this winery has effectively expanded the Valle de Guadalupe wine route to the north. It offers tastings, tours and an on-site store called "La Esperanza" which retails many products grown from its own garden and hand-crafted by family members including grapes, honey, homemade preserves and olive oil.
Don Juan wines have a reputation for quality and have won high praise and awards in festivals including the annual Fiestas de la Vendemia, where both the Don Juan cabernet sauvignon and syrah wines took silver medals. A third type of wine, Meritage, has also received much attention.
Selling between 700 and 1200 cases of wine each year, Viñedos Don Juan is growing in stride with the Valle de Guadalupe. Its founder has been part of the Baja wine industry for over twenty years and takes pride in the contribution of Don Juan wines to the excellent reputation of the Ruta del Vino and especially Valle de las Palmas.
Vinedos Don Juan is deeply committed to green business practices that will support both the environmental and economic health of northern Baja California. Beginning in 2010, each year the winery will adopt one new environmentally friendly practice. Thanks to this year's initiative, Viñedos Don Juan now uses only recycled, carbon-neutral, chlorine free paper for all of its business cards, company stationery, wine labels and other paper needs.
Open daily from 9 to 5 for tastings and by arrangement for guided tours, Viñedos Don Juan is an increasingly well-known Baja California treasure sure to surprise and delight its visitors.
Updated: Oct 21, 2011 10:01 AM
