Baja California Earns Five Nominations in the 2026 Food and Travel Reader Awards
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Baja California is bringing its culinary creativity, wine country experiences and distinctive hospitality into the national spotlight, earning five nominations in the 2026 Food and Travel Reader Awards, a recognition that highlights the state’s growing influence as one of Mexico’s most compelling destinations for food, wine and sustainable tourism.
From the vineyards of Valle de Guadalupe to restaurants that celebrate locally sourced ingredients and environmentally conscious practices, the nominations reflect a tourism industry built around more than attractive landscapes. They showcase a regional identity shaped by its producers, chefs, winemakers, hospitality professionals and communities, all contributing to an experience that increasingly draws visitors from across Mexico and beyond.
Among the five nominations, perhaps the most significant is Best Gastronomic Destination in Mexico, a category that places Baja California among the country’s leading culinary destinations. The recognition reflects the diversity of its food culture, the creativity of its chefs and cooks, and the quality of its regional ingredients, which have helped establish the state as a destination where food is an essential part of the travel experience.
For visitors, that experience can range from traditional regional dishes and seafood prepared with locally sourced ingredients to contemporary culinary concepts that combine Mexican traditions with international influences. Baja California’s gastronomic appeal is also closely connected to its agricultural communities, fishing industry and wine-producing regions, creating a food culture deeply rooted in the territory.
The state’s five nominations extend beyond gastronomy, highlighting several businesses and experiences that represent different dimensions of its tourism industry.
Bodegas Santo Tomás is nominated for Best Wine Tourism Experience, recognizing the importance of wine culture in Baja California’s tourism identity. As one of the region’s established wineries, it represents the connection between viticulture, regional heritage and visitor experiences that allow travelers to explore the stories behind the wines produced in the state.
In the boutique hospitality category, Mira Earth Studios competes for Best Boutique Hotel, bringing attention to accommodations that emphasize distinctive design and a more intimate relationship between visitors and their surroundings.
Sustainability also takes center stage through Deckman’s en el Mogor, nominated for Best Sustainable Restaurant in Mexico. Its recognition highlights a culinary philosophy centered on respect for the land and the relationship between food production, local ingredients and the natural environment. This approach reflects a growing interest among travelers in dining experiences that consider not only what is served at the table, but also where ingredients come from and how they are produced.
Completing the list, Bruma Wine Garden is nominated for Best Restaurant in the Interior of the Republic, further strengthening the presence of Baja California’s wine country in the national gastronomic conversation.
According to Miguel Ángel Badiola Montaño, Baja California’s Secretary of Tourism, these nominations represent the collective efforts of the communities, producers and tourism service providers who have helped develop the state’s distinctive visitor offerings.
He emphasized that behind every tourism experience are individuals and businesses that preserve traditions, create economic opportunities, strengthen local communities and share the region’s cultural and natural wealth with visitors.
The Secretary also connected the nominations to the state’s Shared Wellbeing approach, which encourages collaboration with small producers, environmental responsibility and economic opportunities for local communities. In this context, tourism is viewed not simply as an industry that attracts visitors, but as an economic activity capable of benefiting the people and businesses that make each destination unique.
The recognition comes at a time when culinary tourism continues to play an important role in how travelers choose their destinations. Increasingly, visitors seek experiences that connect them with local culture, authentic flavors, regional products and the people behind them. Baja California’s five nominations bring these elements together, presenting a destination whose appeal extends well beyond its coastline.
The 2026 Food and Travel Reader Awards are organized by Food and Travel, an international publication specializing in gastronomy, travel and cultural experiences. Originally established in the United Kingdom in 1997, the magazine expanded internationally, launching its Mexican edition in 2011.
Readers can review the nominees and cast their votes through Friday, January 22, 2027, at:
For Baja California, the five nominations offer an opportunity to showcase the people, businesses and traditions behind its tourism success. Whether through a glass of locally produced wine, a thoughtfully prepared meal or a stay immersed in the region’s landscape, the message is clear: some of the state’s most memorable experiences begin at the table, but their stories reach far beyond it.
