Villa Gracia

Valle de Guadalupe Villa

A wine country masterpiece built into a field of huge, rounded boulders on a wild Baja Californian hilltop, this panoramic, five-bedroom residence is the bold work of Gracia Studio’s principal, Jorge Gracia, an award-winning architect and founding director of Tijuana’s Escuela Libre de Arquitectura. In characteristic style, Villa Gracia’s elemental architecture sees the landscape integrated into the built environment, with stones abutting concrete, glass walls opening onto wild vistas, and warm woods tempering the sturdy form.

Each of the sleek five bedrooms (one a larger primary suite) has its own bath and view terrace, and is furnished in a natural, earth-toned palette, with warm wood built-ins and occasional contrasting punches of red. The property features an in-home theatre and a fully-equipped kitchen, as well as a pool and outdoor hot tub held in the boulders’ strong embrace.

Panoramas are everywhere, with floor-to-ceiling glass creating transparent walls in both bedrooms and the home’s common areas. Hiking paths start right outside the property’s doors, and a continental breakfast is served daily. Visiting the Valle de Guadalupe wineries requires a vehicle, and guided tours are available by reservation.

Around

A Mexican coastal town known for its seafood, fishing trade, and accessibility to Mexico's Valle de Guadalupe wine country, Ensenada is located only about 125 kilometers south of San Diego, on the Pacific coast of Mexico’s Baja peninsula. While vibrant working ports put Ensenada on the map, with commercial fishing still big today, the town’s location some 65 miles south of the US/Mexico border has long made it a draw for culture, cuisine and cantinas. Plus, its fish tacos (& ceviche) are famous!

What Ensenada’s coastline lacks in glittering resort developments, it more than makes up for in street-food vendors, cantinas, seafood (and other) markets, plus dozens of sidewalk cafes and casual boutiques. It's considered one of the country’s top sports-fishing ports, and Ensenada’s clear waters are also great for surfing, kayaking, whale watching and beach combing. The city boasts a large Asian community, many residents of Chinese origin whose families came to the region to assist in building railroads, and the city’s food scene reflects that aspect of the population, too, with fun, funky fusions such as chow mein tacos or egg rolls with jalapeno sauce.

Set in a rugged green valley about a half hour from Ensenada, the Valle de Guadalupe has become an increasingly renowned wine growing region nestled in between mountains with a not-so-distant sea breeze wafting in off the Pacific. The Valle de Guadalupe has been producing wines for over 100 years, though international recognition has come only in the last few decades. The area is home to about 90% of Mexico’s wine production and has also become a destination in its own right for sustainable and groundbreaking architecture, Mexican design, boutique hotels and coveted restaurant reservations. There are over 150 wineries in the region, with creative vintners working with both red and white wine varieties. The area is perhaps best known for its independent, high-spirited wine makers, who are free to experiment and are working in organic vineyards, creating biodynamic and “free flow” wines and award winning blends. Guided rides through the vineyards lead along many dirt roads, though the Ensenada Wine Route is well marked, a tour that snakes through dramatic valleys and arid hilltops to hidden vineyards and beautiful architectural outposts.

Location

Nearest airports: Tijuana (1 hour); San Diego (2 hours)

Best time to visit

Year-round