The state wine route links 16 points, ten of them wineries, across the high plains north of the capital. Casa Leal and Hacienda de Letras are the two most reliably open to visitors for guided tours, with the Casa Leal tour running about an hour through the vineyard and cellar before a tasting. Tours are booked ahead rather than walked into, and cost roughly MXN 300-600 per person (approx USD 18-35).
The Ruta del Vino Aguascalientes runs across the high plains north of Aguascalientes city in central Mexico, linking 16 points of interest of which ten are wineries. The nearest are 20 km from the capital and the furthest around 45 km, meaning 30 minutes to an hour of driving depending on which properties are chosen. The vineyards lie on rural roads off Federal Highway 45 and the old Zacatecas road, the historic Camino Real de Tierra Adentro, and no scheduled bus serves them. That leaves two options: a rental car with a designated non-drinking driver, or a private driver hired for the day at roughly MXN 1,800 to 3,000, about USD 106 to 176. Aguascalientes agencies also run organised winery tours during the July to September harvest.\n\nTwo properties are the most reliably open to visitors. Vinedos Casa Leal, in Jesus Gomez Portugal in the municipality of Jesus Maria, runs a guided tour of about an hour through the vineyard and cellar before a seated tasting. Hacienda de Letras, further north near Pabellon de Arteaga, offers a similar format in a restored hacienda setting, and Santa Elena is in the same corridor. Tours cost roughly MXN 300 to 600 per person, around USD 18 to 35, and are booked ahead rather than walked into - arriving unannounced frequently means being turned away. Aguascalientes has grown wine grapes since the colonial period, though the modern boutique wineries date largely from the last two decades.\n\nA practical day takes in two wineries rather than three. A late-morning tour at Casa Leal, lunch either on site where available or in Pabellon de Arteaga, then an afternoon tour further north keeps the pace comfortable and leaves the palate intact. Booking the first slot of the day at each property tends to mean a smaller group. Drivers should plan the return to Aguascalientes before dark, as the rural approach roads are unlit.\n\nFood on the route is limited outside the wineries themselves. Pabellon de Arteaga and Rincon de Romos have fondas serving comida corrida for around MXN 90 to 150, and the Hacienda de San Blas at Pabellon de Hidalgo sits in the same corridor for a non-drinking stop. July to September is the harvest, when the vines are at their best and events cluster; tastings run year-round by appointment.
How to get there
- Rental car with a designated non-drinking driver
- Private driver hired for the day, typically MXN 1,800-3,000 (approx USD 106-176)
- Organised winery tours run by Aguascalientes agencies during the July-September harvest season
Location
Vinedos Casa Leal, Camino Real de Tierra Adentro (old Zacatecas road), Jesus Gomez Portugal, Municipio de Jesus Maria, Aguascalientes, Ags., Mexico
21.9917, -102.3167 View on map
Highlights
- Tour the vineyard and cellar at Vinedos Casa Leal in Jesus Gomez Portugal, about an hour before a seated tasting
- Taste at Hacienda de Letras near Pabellon de Arteaga, set in a restored hacienda north of the capital
- Follow the old Zacatecas road, part of the UNESCO-listed Camino Real de Tierra Adentro, between properties
- Visit during the July-September harvest, when the vines peak and winery events cluster
- Pair the route with the Hacienda de San Blas at Pabellon de Hidalgo in the same corridor
Tips for visiting
- Book tours ahead. The wineries work by appointment and arriving unannounced frequently means being turned away.
- No scheduled bus serves the vineyards - plan on a rental car with a designated non-drinking driver or a hired driver.
- A private driver for the day runs roughly MXN 1,800-3,000 (about USD 106-176) and removes the drink-driving problem entirely.
- Budget MXN 300-600 per person (about USD 18-35) for a tour and tasting at each property.
- Two wineries in a day is the comfortable maximum; three leaves little time for lunch and dulls the tasting.
- Request the first slot of the day at each winery for a smaller group, and plan the drive back before dark on unlit rural roads.
When to visit
July to September for the harvest, when the vines are at their best and events cluster, though tastings run year-round by appointment. Booking the first slot of the day usually means a smaller group and a more detailed tour.
Accessibility
Winery facilities vary: tasting rooms and hacienda courtyards are generally at ground level and reachable, but vineyard walks are on uneven earth and cellar areas often involve steps or ramps. Visitors with mobility needs should state them when booking, as the properties are small and can usually adapt the tour route. Parking is on gravel at most sites.
Frequently asked questions
How many wineries are on the Ruta del Vino Aguascalientes?
The state route links 16 points of interest, ten of them wineries. Casa Leal and Hacienda de Letras are the two most reliably open to visitors for guided tours and tastings.
Do the wineries need to be booked in advance?
Yes. Tours are arranged by appointment rather than walk-in, and turning up unannounced often means being turned away. Booking also secures a specific time slot and group size.
How much does a tour and tasting cost?
Roughly MXN 300 to 600 per person, about USD 18 to 35, depending on the property and the wines poured. The Casa Leal tour runs about an hour through the vineyard and cellar before the tasting.
How do visitors get around without driving themselves?
A private driver hired for the day costs roughly MXN 1,800 to 3,000. Aguascalientes agencies also run organised winery tours, particularly during the July to September harvest season.
When is the harvest?
July to September, when the vines are at their most photogenic and winery events cluster. Tastings themselves run year-round by appointment.