Bodegas de Santo Tomás

The basics

While Santo Tomás is less frequently a wine-tour destination, you can easily visit one of three locations: tasting rooms in Ensenada and the Valley of Guadalupe, and the main winery in the San Vicente Valley (Valle de Santo Tomás). Official visits there range from 40-minute tastings and winemaking workshops to half-day outings with cart rides through the vineyards and valley; the latter includes wine cellar visits, a special winemaking workshop, and generous tastings of up to 10 wines.

Things to know before you go

• Standard tastings are organized into “pioneer,” “legacy,” and “icon” wines.

• Most wine-tasting experiences have a minimum 4-person booking.

• Make reservations via phone, email, or the online system on the winery website.

How to get there

The winery is in the San Vicente Valley, and it takes around an hour to drive there from Ensenada along Highway 1; it’s just past the town of Ejido el Ajusco. The San Antonio Tasting Room is about 30 minutes north of Ensenada in the town of San Antonio, while the Miramar Tasting Room is in Ensenada.

When to get there

You can visit the winery and tasting rooms year-round. Some wine-tasting experiences, such as the Camino Wine Explorer, which includes a vineyard cart ride and wine cellar visit, are only available on the weekends from Thursday to Sunday. Check the winery website for a full schedule and to make reservations.

Special Santo Tomás wine experiences

Along with the Camino Wine Explorer, you can book other special experiences at the winery. The Country Barbecue, for example, pairs red wine with grilled meat under the shade of an oak tree, and is designed for groups. You can also take a sailboat tour from Ensenada, which spends four hours on the water with wine and cheese.