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El Cielo even has a lovely, consecrated private chapel, Chapel Nuestra Señora de los Milagros, "Our Lady of Miracles," the setting for weddings and religious ceremonies including a weekly public mass. e Equinox Terrace is an expansive, outdoor venue, and there are many gardens and other spaces around the property for more intimate celebrations. I especially liked the accommodations. A boutique hotel, El Cielo offers 95 suites and villas housed in two-story residences. e presidential villas, which can accommodate six guests, include living rooms, kitchens, and dining rooms. Other villas feature ground floor master suites that open onto terraces with firepits or second floor junior suites with balconies. Each is elegantly furnished and offers mountain and vineyard views. Founded in 2013 by Gustavo Ortega Joaquin with Dolores Lopez Lira and José Luis Martinez, the eco-conscious winery grows 15 varieties of mostly certified organic vines. Led by winemaker Jesus Rivera, El Cielo produces two dozen labels — rosé, red, white, and sparkling wines — many of which have won gold medals in major competitions. Guests can borrow a bicycle or rent a golf cart for self-guided tours of the property. I enjoyed touring the vineyards in a shaded wagon with a knowledgeable guide, pausing between rows of grapevines to learn about viticulture and sip different varietals. El Cielo's falconer introduced us to a Harris's hawk, which shoos grape-eating birds and other critters from the vineyards. Afterward, our group learned about the alchemy that transforms grapes into wine in the vast, state-of- the-art subterranean winery. e resort offers casual tastings in the barrel room, with more formal tastings featuring flights of prize- winning vintages led by wine educators. Our group capped our trip with a visit to Muestra del Vino, the grand opening event for the annual three-week wine festival held each August in Ensenada during the vendimia, or harvest season. We joined the huge crowd gathered at the historic Riviera del Pacifico building to sip a wide range of varietals and sample light bites from dozens of regional chefs and restaurants. is year's festival runs from July 30 to August 17. After a breakfast of sweet bread, fruit, Mexican-style scrambled eggs, and chilaquiles the next morning at Polaris, we exchanged warm good-byes with the hospitable, knowledgeable staff and headed home to Southern California. I plan to return very soon to this "heaven on earth." elcielovalledeguadalupe.com/eng TRAVEL TIP: Instead of driving yourself, consider booking private transport with Las Lomas. We parked at the Border Station Parking Lot in San Ysidro where our driver picked us up for the two-hour drive to the Valle. On the way, we stopped in for lunch in Puerto Nuevo, the iconic seaside lobster village with more than 30 restaurants serving buttery, grilled lobster with warm tortillas, beans, cilantro, and salsa. We ate our fill at La Casa de la Langosta, one of the oldest lobster houses, perfectly paired with a crisp chardonnay and light rosé from El Cielo Winery. casadelalangosta.com detour destinations << PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF EL CIELO RESORT & WINERY ranchandcoast.com 78 JUNE 2025 RANCH & COAST MAGAZINE Hop on a wagon for tours and tastings in the vineyards Guests stay in lovely villas and suites overlooking reservoirs with views of vineyards and mountains The resort has a falconer and Harris's hawks that shoo away birds from the vineyards This king suite with a living area offers vineyard views