Resumo: This paper presents the first-year results of a postdoctoral study, which analyses the model of wine tourism and territorial development of La Rioja, Spain, so that it may be compared with Baja California, Mexico. By observing the behavior of the different wine tourism options, the real growth potential of the region can be determined. The methodology comprises a first stage in which the model of wine tourism of the wine regions of Baja California is developed and identified. A representative sample of 64 wineries in Valle de Guadalupe was constructed and a database of all of the companies offering wine tourism in the wine valleys of Baja California was created. The preliminary results reveal that the wine tourism model is built into the products and services offered by developers, restauranteurs, hotel or tourist accommodation, and wineries of four wine routes, consisting in 20 promoters, 50 restaurants, 27 hotels and 95 wineries. Micro-sized companies represent 59.4% of the sample, small companies constitute 18.8% and medium-sized companies make up10.9%. The findings satisfactorily fulfil the objective of the first stage of the research project.
