Vinitácora Puts Baja Wine on the World Stage

If you thought Baja’s wine scene was just local buzz, think again. Vinitácora: Wines and Wineries of Baja California just snagged the world title for Wine Guides at the Gourmand Awards 2025 in Portugal—beating out publications from over 60 countries . ¡Salud!

What’s the Gourmand Award?

Known as the “Oscars of food and wine books,” the Gourmand World Cookbook Awards have celebrated stellar gastronomic literature since 1995, with over 200 countries competing annually . In 2025, winners were announced in Estoril, Portugal—where Vinitácora took first place for Best Wine Guide worldwide  .

Why Vinitácora Stands Out

This isn’t just a pretty picture book. Vinitácora offers deep dive coverage of 80+ wineries, 900 wines, and all seven valleys that define Baja’s wine map  . Organized, bilingual, and user-friendly, it’s built for wine travelers—whether you’re Instagram-savvy or GPS-wary  .

Vinitácora: More Than a Guide

Founded by sommelier-authors Lorena Hernández (Vionda) and Fabián Jáuregui, the guide isn’t just a list—it’s a living tool. They’re celebrating 10 years of highlighting Mexico’s wine regions—covering Valle de Guadalupe and touching Aguascalientes and California too  .

In Portugal, they stole the spotlight with a special tasting event in Cascais, showcasing flagship Baja wineries like Adobe Guadalupe, Casa de Piedra, and Vena Cava  .

What This Means for Baja

Baja’s Secretary of Tourism, Miguel Aguíñiga Rodríguez, praised the win as proof that the region is now an international wine powerhouse  . Vinitácora’s award-winning content, maps, expert notes, and aesthetic design convinced judges worldwide  .

Local winery owners say this kind of shine can turn corks into visitors—and shipments. It’s marketing gold for Baja’s wine tourism industry  .

A Toast to the Future

With this global medal, Baja California not only cements its title as the Capital of Mexican Wine—it doubles down. Backed by Vinitácora’s credibility, the Tourism Secretariat plans to promote it at international fairs and tastings  .

🟣 No Bad News. Just big sips and even bigger wins for Baja.

Luisa Rosas-Hernández

Luisa Rosas-Hernández is a writer for the Gringo Gazette North, where she covers Baja’s wine scene, good eats, and public safety—with a healthy dose of wit and no bad news allowed. By day, she’s a health researcher recognized by Mexico’s National System of Researchers (SNI), and by night, she handles the Gazette’s finances and dabbles in social media—making sure the numbers add up and the posts pop. When she’s not chasing stories or crunching data, you’ll likely find her in the Valle enjoying a glass of red (or a crisp white with oysters)… for research purposes, of course.

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