Querétaro’s Wine Route: Vineyards, Cheese, Bernal, Tequisquiapan and Where to Stay

Photo: Arq. Carlos G. Calzada / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0); destination context image.

Jet Set LatAM · Wine and Gastronomy

Mexico’s other wine country is only a couple of hours from the capital. Querétaro’s Ruta del Arte, Queso y Vino — the Art, Cheese and Wine Route — links more than 50 vineyards with artisanal cheese makers, the hot-spring town of Tequisquiapan and the Pueblo Mágico of Bernal, beneath one of the largest rock monoliths in the world. It is the most elegant weekend you can plan from Mexico City or San Miguel de Allende.

Wineries to visit

Freixenet México, the Mexican house of the Spanish cava producer, is the country’s most visited winery; at Finca Sala Vivé you descend into a cellar about 25 meters underground before a sparkling-wine tasting. Viñedos La Redonda, one of central Mexico’s most prestigious wineries, celebrated 50 years of winemaking in 2025. De Cote is the boutique pick: a contemporary winery on a mesa facing the Peña de Bernal, with an outstanding restaurant, Envero, for lunch or dinner. Tres Raíces pairs style with award-winning wines, and San Juanito is a small winery near Tequisquiapan.

Cheese and the towns

The route is as much about cheese as wine — local queserías serve flights of aged and fresh cheeses paired with regional wine. In Tequisquiapan, wander the colorful center, visit the wine museum and soak in the mineral pools many hotels offer. In Bernal, walk the base of the Peña, which rises about 350 meters above town, and browse the craft stalls around the plaza.

When to go

Harvest season, roughly July and August, brings the region’s vendimia festivals, including Freixenet’s harvest concerts. Spring and autumn offer mild, sunny days for tastings.

Where to stay

Base yourself in Tequisquiapan for spa hotels near the wineries, in Bernal for views of the Peña, or in the colonial city of Querétaro — itself a UNESCO World Heritage Site — for boutique hotels in restored mansions. Most major wineries are 45 to 60 minutes from the city. San Miguel de Allende is about an hour away; see our guide to fine dining in San Miguel de Allende.

Practical tips

• Don’t drive after tastings. Book a guided route tour or a driver.
• Limit stops. Two wineries plus a cheese tasting is plenty for one day.
• Dress. Sun hat by day, a layer for cool evenings.

What to pack

• Lightweight travel wrap — for cellar visits and cool nights
• Packing cubes — room for a few bottles
• Our full ShopMy travel collection ↗

Frequently asked questions

What is Querétaro’s wine route?

The Ruta del Arte, Queso y Vino, linking more than 50 vineyards, cheese makers and the towns of Tequisquiapan and Bernal.

What is the most visited winery in Mexico?

Freixenet México in Querétaro is considered the country’s most visited winery.

How far are the wineries from Querétaro city?

Most are 45 to 60 minutes away by road.

When is harvest season in Querétaro?

Roughly July and August, when vendimia festivals take place.

Keep reading

• Fine Dining in San Miguel de Allende
• San Miguel de Allende Boutique Shopping
• UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Mexico

Some links on this page are affiliate links: if you buy or book through them, Jet Set LatAM may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Please drink responsibly. This is a researched editorial guide; confirm opening hours and tasting bookings directly before you go.