From Ensenada: Ojos Negros Valley Cheese & Wine Tasting Tour

Ojos Negros Valley gives you a different side of Baja California: open countryside, family-made cheese, and small-scale wine production far from Ensenada’s waterfront. The best part is the visit to Marcelo’s underground cheese cellar, where Ramonetti cheeses are paired with wine and local products in a setting that feels tied to the land rather than built for mass tourism.

I like the personal touch of meeting Pepe Pedrosa, Infinito Winery’s owner and winemaker, when his schedule allows. I also like that transportation, hotel pickup, the cheese tastings, and the Rancho La Campana tour are covered in the price. The main catch is that Infinito wine tastings and lunch are extra, and the winery stop can change according to availability.

Key points to know before booking

• Pepe Pedrosa may lead the Infinito Winery visit: The owner and winemaker sometimes guides you through the vineyard and explains his approach to wine.
• Marcelo’s cellar is the heart of the day: Taste cheeses, wine, and local products underground at La Cava de Marcelo.
• The Ramonetti family has made dairy products since 1911: The Rancho La Campana tour connects the tasting table with the cheese-making process.
• Lunch is separate: You can eat at Casa de Marcelo, but the meal is not included in the $150 price.
• Pickup covers several Ensenada-area locations: If your lodging is outside the pickup range, meet at Centro Social, Cultural y Cívico Riviera Ensenada.
• This is an adults-only drinking experience: Every participant must be at least 18 and show a valid photo ID to consume alcohol.

Why Ojos Negros makes a worthwhile day trip

Ojos Negros Valley sits about an hour east of Ensenada, making this a countryside outing rather than a quick tasting-room visit. The drive matters. You leave the coastal city behind and spend the day in a rural part of Baja California where cheese and wine are made by smaller producers.

I like the way this tour joins two local food traditions. Wine is only half the story here. The Ramonetti family’s dairy work gives the day a strong sense of place, and the cheese tasting at Marcelo’s cellar helps you understand why regional food tours can be more memorable than a string of unrelated samples.

The six-hour schedule is long enough to include several stops without turning into an all-day expedition. It also leaves room for a meal at Casa de Marcelo, though you should budget separately for it. If your main goal is to drink heavily or visit many wineries, this is probably not the right outing. It is better suited to someone who wants one winery visit, a close look at cheese production, and a slow food-focused day.

Starting with transport from Ensenada

Hotel pickup and drop-off are included from a number of locations around Ensenada and nearby areas. Listed pickup points include Viñas del Sol, Cíbolas de Mar, Guadalupe, Estero Beach, El Sauzal, El Tigre, Villa de Juárez, and Tierra Santa.

You should be ready in your hotel lobby 15 minutes before the scheduled pickup. The exact starting time depends on availability, so check the current departure options when booking.

If your accommodation falls outside the pickup area, the meeting point is Centro Social, Cultural y Cívico Riviera Ensenada. Parking there is free and described as safe, and your guide waits by the main wooden front door. The tour operator confirms the pickup time within 24 hours of the outing.

Round-trip transport is one of the stronger parts of the $150 price. You do not need to arrange a rental car, navigate rural roads, or decide who will stay sober for the return drive. Bottled water and snacks are also included.

This experience is not available to people visiting Ensenada temporarily from a cruise ship. That restriction is worth checking before you book, since the pickup plan is designed for hotel-based visitors.

Meeting Pepe Pedrosa at Infinito Winery

The first main stop is Vinícola Infinito, where the visit lasts about an hour and a half. When available, Pepe Pedrosa, the owner and winemaker, leads the experience. That can give the stop a more personal feel than a standard tasting led by a general staff member.

You can expect a vineyard visit and an introduction to the basic world of wine. The setting is the Ojos Negros Valley, so the value here comes from seeing where the wine is made and hearing directly from the person responsible for the bottles.

There is an important cost detail. The visit to Infinito is included when available, but wine tastings there are not included in the tour price. The schedule describes an aperitif and wine tasting, so confirm exactly what is covered before you go. The supplied details clearly identify Infinito tastings as an extra expense.

The winery itself is also subject to availability. If the stop cannot take place, another stop may be arranged. That flexibility helps the operator manage local schedules, but it means you should not book this tour solely because you want a guaranteed visit to Infinito.

A guide named Jesus receives particularly strong praise in the available feedback for being helpful, patient, and informative. Since the exact guide can vary, you should treat his participation as possible rather than guaranteed. Still, the experience seems to place real weight on clear explanations and a relaxed pace.

Touring Rancho La Campana and the Ramonetti dairy tradition

The second major stop is Rancho La Campana, home to La Cava de Marcelo and the Casa de Marcelo restaurant. This is where the tour shifts from vineyard to dairy production.

The Ramonetti family has produced cheese and other dairy products since 1911. A guided tour takes you through the production area, letting you see how the cheese is made rather than simply placing finished products on a plate.

That connection is important. A tasting can be enjoyable on its own, but learning about the production area gives the food more meaning. You get a better sense of the work behind the cheese and why this family operation has remained part of the region’s food culture for more than a century.

The tour is not designed as a technical cheese-making course, and the supplied details do not promise a full hands-on workshop. You are there for a guided look at the facilities followed by tasting, not for a professional certification or a long production seminar.

Wear comfortable shoes. Open-toed shoes are not allowed, and the route may include uneven or less polished areas associated with a working ranch and underground cellar. Anyone with mobility limits should take the accessibility warning seriously, since the experience is not suitable for wheelchair users or people with mobility impairments.

Tasting inside Marcelo’s underground cellar

La Cava de Marcelo is the most distinctive stop of the day. The cellar is underground, and the tasting includes cheeses, wines, desserts, and other local products.

I like this part because it brings the tour’s main ideas together. You have the cheese made at Rancho La Campana, wine from the region, and a setting built for storage and tasting rather than a generic restaurant room. The underground cellar gives the meal portion a clear identity.

The included tasting at Marcelo’s cellar is a major reason the price can make sense. You are not paying only for transport and a short winery visit. The package also includes admission, a guided Rancho La Campana tour, a look at the cheese production area, snacks, bottled water, and a souvenir.

Do not confuse the cellar tasting with lunch. A tasting can provide plenty of food to sample, but the main meal at Casa de Marcelo is separate. If you want a full lunch, bring cash or another accepted payment method and allow for that extra cost.

Cash is listed among the suggested items to bring. That is practical advice for a food-and-drink outing, especially since the lunch and some optional tastings are not included.

Casa de Marcelo and the separate lunch cost

At the end of the Rancho La Campana visit, you have time to eat at Casa de Marcelo. The restaurant serves gourmet cuisine, but the meal is not part of the $150 package.

This arrangement gives you some choice. If the included cheese and local-product tasting has satisfied you, you can keep the extra cost down. If you want a proper meal and more time at the ranch, Casa de Marcelo gives you that option.

The information does not provide a fixed menu or meal price, so I would not treat lunch as a minor detail. Ask about the menu and payment options before settling in. The tour includes tastings, but you should plan your food budget as if lunch will be an additional purchase.

A dessert is listed as part of the Marcelo’s stop, although the precise serving format can vary. You may receive it with the tasting or as part of the food service. Either way, the important distinction is simple: the cellar samples are included, while lunch is not.

What the $150 price really covers

At $150 per person, this is not the cheapest way to spend six hours around Ensenada. The value depends on how much use you make of the included transport, guided visits, and food samples.

The price includes:

• Hotel pickup and drop-off within the service area
• Round-trip transportation
• Admission fees
• A Rancho La Campana guided tour
• Access to the cheese production area
• The Infinito Winery visit when available
• Cheese, wine, and local-product tastings at Marcelo’s cellar
• Bottled water and snacks
• A souvenir

The price does not include Infinito Winery tastings or lunch. Those two exclusions are the main points to consider when comparing this outing with other food tours.

I think the tour offers fair value if you would otherwise pay for a driver, arrange rural transport, and book separate visits. It is less appealing if you mainly want a quick wine tasting, since the day is built around both wine and cheese, with a substantial portion devoted to Rancho La Campana.

The small group option is another value factor. Private groups are available, though the supplied details do not state the extra price or the standard group size. If personal attention matters to you, ask about the private option before booking.

Practical preparation for a comfortable day

Wear comfortable closed-toe shoes. Open-toed shoes are not allowed, and the tour is not suitable for wheelchair users or people with mobility impairments.

Bring sunglasses, a sun hat, sunscreen, cash, and a valid photo ID. All participants must be 18 or older to consume alcohol, and a copy of an ID is accepted according to the supplied instructions.

The tour runs rain or shine except during extreme weather. That means you should prepare for outdoor time at the vineyard and ranch rather than assuming every part of the day takes place indoors.

Pets and oversized luggage are not allowed. Pack lightly, especially since this is a food-focused outing with vehicle transfers and walking between several parts of the ranch.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the tour for a full refund. You can also reserve now and pay later, which helps if your Ensenada schedule is still changing.

Who should book this Ojos Negros tour

I would choose this tour if you enjoy regional food, family-run production, and a slower countryside schedule. It suits couples, food-focused adults, and small groups who want more context than a simple tasting flight provides.

It is also a good fit if you do not want to drive after drinking. Pickup, drop-off, and a bilingual guide remove much of the day’s transport hassle.

You should think twice if you need wheelchair access, are bringing young children who cannot participate in the alcohol portion, or want a guaranteed visit to one specific winery. Infinito Winery is subject to availability, and other stops may change.

The tour also suits people who appreciate a flexible lunch plan. You can eat at Casa de Marcelo, but you must pay separately. If you prefer an all-inclusive price with no add-ons, this setup may feel less convenient.

Should you book it?

Book this experience if the combination of Ojos Negros wine and Ramonetti cheese sounds more appealing than a winery-only outing. The underground cellar, the cheese production visit, and the chance to meet Pepe Pedrosa give the day more character than a basic tasting transfer.

Before paying, confirm the available Infinito schedule, the cost of its wine tastings, and the expected pickup time. If you are comfortable with those variables and can budget for lunch, the tour offers a practical, well-rounded introduction to the valley’s food traditions.

FAQ

How long does the Ojos Negros Valley tour last?

The experience lasts six hours, including transportation, the winery visit, the Rancho La Campana tour, and the tasting at Marcelo’s cellar.

Is hotel pickup included?

Yes. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included from listed locations in and around Ensenada. You should wait in the hotel lobby 15 minutes before the scheduled pickup time.

What if my accommodation is outside the pickup area?

You should meet the tour guide at Centro Social, Cultural y Cívico Riviera Ensenada. Parking is free and safe, and the guide waits by the main wooden front door.

Is the Infinito Winery visit guaranteed?

No. The visit to Infinito Winery depends on availability, and stops may change. Pepe Pedrosa, the owner and winemaker, may lead the visit when his schedule allows.

Are wine tastings at Infinito Winery included?

No. Tastings at Infinito Winery are not included in the tour price. The included tasting takes place at Marcelo’s underground cellar and includes cheese, wine, and local products.

Is lunch included?

No. You have time to eat at Casa de Marcelo, but lunch is at your own expense.

What languages are available?

The tour is offered in English and Spanish.

Can I cancel the booking?

Yes. You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. The experience also offers a reserve-now, pay-later option.