What’s the last thing you expect when you sit down for lunch at a winery restaurant? A sommelier who can actually pronounce “Gewürztraminer”? Maybe. But how about the floor beneath you collapsing and dumping you, your family, and the guacamole into a five-meter-deep artificial lake? That’s exactly what happened last month at Mawi Valle de Guadalupe—because apparently, “structural maintenance” wasn’t on the menu.
On July 12, four diners sat at one of Mawi’s so-called overhanging piers, which the restaurant markets as a signature attraction. Think Instagram backdrop: rustic wooden pier over calm water, perfect for showing off your wine glass. Except this one gave way, turning a casual day in the Valle into a scene from “Titanic,” minus Leonardo DiCaprio and with more floating salad.
The victims, including a woman identified on Facebook as Alina Kinoshita, went public after waiting a month for what they say was never-delivered help from the restaurant. In a post titled “VIVIMOS PARA CONTARLO!!” (We lived to tell it!!), Kinoshita detailed the chaos. Not only did they plunge into the water, but they were hit with collapsing tables, chairs, glassware, and bits of the pier itself. Two of the group couldn’t swim, forcing others to pull them to safety while waiters dove in like Baywatch extras.
The restaurant staff managed to rescue the group and even waded in to retrieve lost belongings. It took four hours to recover their phones, which were then lovingly buried in rice—because if Facebook has taught us anything, that’s how you fix a drowned iPhone. Spoiler: it didn’t work.
In relation to a recent publication about an incident that occurred on July 12 2025 we inform you that
From the very first moment immediate assistance was provided to the people involved
Medical expenses check ups and tests were covered
That same day an agreement was signed with the parties covering the total damages for $93496 MXN
Additionally even after covering the amount agreed upon in writing we continued to cover additional expenses that the person later submitted always ensuring their well being
At Mawi Valle de Guadalupe the safety and well being of our visitors will always be our priority
MAWI VALLE DE GUADALUPE
Kinoshita says the restaurant initially promised to cover medical expenses and damages. But after some handshakes and vague assurances, silence. The group claims ongoing physical and psychological damage, and they’ve taken their case to local authorities. So far, according to them, the owner has ignored official notices.
Mawi Valle de Guadalupe, for its part, released a very different version on Facebook this week. In their statement, they insist they’ve done everything right. They say they provided “immediate assistance,” covered medical bills and tests, and even signed an agreement that day to pay damages—93,496 pesos, to be exact. They also claim they kept covering additional expenses later on. In other words: case closed, nothing to see here.
Except the victims beg to differ. “We tried to settle at first, but they stopped answering us,” Kinoshita wrote. “Our health issues continue, and the trauma is irreversible. Thank God our kids and parents weren’t with us that day.”
And the internet has definitely taken sides. The viral Facebook post has racked up more than 7,000 reactions, over 1,000 comments, and nearly 9,000 shares. That’s the kind of publicity money can’t buy—and no restaurant wants.
The clash has become a full-blown he-said-she-said: the restaurant waving receipts and claiming generosity, the victims posting bruised photos and pointing to unanswered calls. Either way, the viral outrage has done more damage to Mawi’s brand than a one-star Yelp review could ever dream of.
Beyond the legal back-and-forth, the cautionary tale here is simple: be careful where you brunch. Instagrammable views don’t mean the wood beneath your feet is up to code. And if a pier is held together by “aesthetic rustic charm” instead of screws, maybe pick the table inside.
For the diners who fell in, the incident was terrifying. For the Valle restaurant scene, it’s a reminder that maintenance matters just as much as Malbec. And for the rest of us, it’s another reason to check twice before posting that perfect #ValleVibes shot.
Because you never know—next time your wine flight might come with an unplanned swim lesson.
