Country Mexico Municipality Ensenada Local time Friday 9:17 PM | State Baja California Elevation 1,129 ft (344 m) Population 2,664 (2010) | |
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Time zone Northwest US Pacific (UTC-8) Weather 14°C, Wind E at 6 km/h, 61% Humidity | ||
Valle de Guadalupe (Valley of Guadalupe), or Francisco Zarco is a village located in the Ensenada Municipality, Baja California, Mexico, 20 km (14 mi) north of the city of Ensenada. The census of 2010 reported a population of 2,664 inhabitants.
Contents
Map of Guadalupe, Baja California, Mexico
History
The community was founded in 1834 by Dominican missionary Félix Caballero as Misión de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe del Norte, making it the last mission established in the Californias. Caballero had to abandon the mission in 1840, under attacks from the indigenous peoples.
From 1905-1910, a mixture of Spiritual Christian faiths from South Russia, mostly Pryguny, settled in 4 farming colonies near Ensenada, Baja California Norte Territory, Mexico. Guadalupe was the main colony of about 20+ square miles purchased in 1905. Most owned or rented land communally. Not all were ethnic Russians, and were of various faiths, but mostly non-Orthodox. They also rented as much as 50 square miles from about 10 nearby ranches. A few other immigrants from Russia lived in Ensenada city. Most moved to California during World War II to join more prosperous relatives and work in the war industries. Most of who remained, intermarried and live in Ensenada and Tijuana.
When the valley economy shifted to wine-making, the Baja government funded a museum, to preserve the history of the former settlers from Old Russia and enhance wine tourism. Soon two private museums opened, one with a cafe across the street from the state museum, to provide Russian-Mexican dishes for tourists and groups. Roads are improved with asphalt paving to accommodate wine-tour buses.
Wineries
Since the 1990s the association of winemakers of Baja California holds the Grape Harvest Fiestas in the Valley of Guadalupe and the town of Ensenada every year in August. The celebration includes wine tasting sessions, concerts and soirées, and samplings of regional cuisine and Mexican wines.
Wine tasting is available year round, and several of the wineries have built up-market restaurant/tasting establishments aimed specifically at tourists from the United States. A winery tour is usually included on cruise ships that stop at Ensenada.