Baja California Strengthens Wine Sector, Addresses Water Scarcity

Julio Berdegué, Mexico’s Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development (SADER), held a constructive dialogue with wine, fruit and vegetable producers from the state of Baja California to identify areas of action related to plant health, commercialization and infrastructure, seeking to boost the development of these sectors at both the national and international levels.

Producers from Ensenada and Guadalupe, San Quintín and Vizcaíno valleys raised concerns and proposals related to plant health, labor justice and social security, improvements to road infrastructure, water scarcity, sustainability, training, and technology transfer.

Berdegué said Baja California is a strategic state for the country’s agri-food development and added that the Mexican government is seeking to build joint solutions directly with producers. He emphasized the importance of strengthening key areas such as plant health, infrastructure and commercialization to make the agricultural sector more competitive and sustainable.

The minister noted that one of the most significant changes in Mexico’s agricultural infrastructure is the modernization of 17 irrigation districts nationwide, including one in Baja California. The goal is to use water more efficiently while increasing food production and productivity.

In this context, producers highlighted that greater water availability through irrigation modernization would allow more vineyards to be planted in the state. This is particularly relevant given that the wine sector is the second-largest employer after the horticultural industry, and that the Guadalupe Valley alone accounts for 70% of national wine production.

Berdegué also stressed that efforts are underway to promote greater use of technology in the agricultural sector, along with the simplification of administrative procedures to move toward a more efficient government with less bureaucracy and corruption. “That is a major part of what we are doing, removing problems and barriers,” he said.

Mónica Vargas, head of the Baja California Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, reiterated the state government’s support for the productive sector. “For the government of Baja California, supporting the wine and horticultural sectors is a priority. From the ministry, we work in coordination with the federal government to address their needs, strengthen plant health, promote infrastructure and create conditions that allow for greater competitiveness and development of Baja California’s agricultural sector,” Vargas said.

The meeting also included producers from the Baja California Agricultural Council, an industry organization that brings together producers and companies from San Quintín, the Mexicali Valley and the coastal region, as well as the Pro Vino Baja California Committee, a civil association that represents 80 wineries located across seven wine-producing valleys.

Baja California moves to secure geographic label for local wines

In 2025, Baja California authorities and industry representatives moved forward with plans to establish a geographic certification for wines produced in the state. 

Michelle Guerrero, undersecretary for Economic Development Promotion at Baja California’s Ministry of Economy, said the objective is for local wines to obtain a designation similar to a denomination of origin, allowing bottles to carry a distinctive seal certifying that they meet specific quality standards and originate in Baja California.

“It is about recognizing wines that are truly from the state, produced here under certain quality standards. They will receive recognition, and the bottle will carry a distinctive label indicating it is a Baja California wine. This will help with commercialization,” Guerrero said.

To achieve this goal, the Pro Vino Committee of Baja California has begun work to obtain a Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) from Mexico’s Industrial Property Institute (IMPI). As part of the process, Pro Vino signed an agreement with El Colegio de la Frontera Norte (COLEF) and the Ensenada Economic Development Council (Codeen).

Wenceslao Martínez, President, Pro Vino, said Queretaro already holds a PGI and that Baja California would become the second Mexican state to obtain the certification. “It is like a denomination of origin, but in the wine world, it is a less restrictive way to protect what we do as Baja California wines. There are many protected geographical indications in the country—for textiles, coffee and other products—and the idea is to protect the identity of our wines. While we have been the leading producing state, maintaining that leadership is becoming increasingly difficult,” Martínez said.

Martínez estimated the process could take about a year. COLEF will be responsible for meeting IMPI’s technical and regulatory requirements, after which the Vitivinicultural Studies Center (CEVIT) will oversee the technical aspects and operating rules.

“One thing is having a certificate, and another is who will inspect and ensure that the grapes being harvested are truly from Baja California, and that the fruit is not being taken to other states. We are not yet at the stage of defining Baja California by a single varietal. There is still a long way to go, and this is a first step,” he said.

The initiative follows a difficult year for the wine sector due to drought conditions. Francisco Rubio, president of Pro Vino Baja California, said annual rainfall in the region typically reaches 12 inches, but last year it fell to just three inches, marking the worst drought in the past 50 years.

Guerrero said the state government views the geographic certification as a tool to help the sector recover from what she described as a challenging year. She added that authorities have also held meetings with stakeholders in the Guadalupe Valley following reports of a recent decline in visitor numbers.

“The minister has been holding working groups with restaurants, hoteliers and wineries to understand the market and determine whether security or infrastructure issues are affecting demand, in order to develop an integrated program to support these sectors,” she said.