Altipiano Vineyard & Winery

Specialties

Boutique vineyard and winery surrounding Peter and Denise Clarke’s grand Tuscan Villa with tasting room, barrel room and winery crush facility. Lush patios and gardens with vineyard and skyline views. Regular vineyard and winery tours. Located above San Pasqual Valley’s San Diego Zoo Safari Park, 5 miles east of Rancho Bernardo at Interstate 15 West Bernardo/​Pomerado Offramp. Watch for the «Highland Valley Wine Country» sign.

History

Established in 2008.

Leon Santoro came from Northern Wine Country in the early 90s as wine maker for San Pasqual’s Orfila Winery. Rumor has it that he was the one who talked Ambassador Orfila into buying the place. Undoubtedly some thought he was crazy. In any case, Leon established Orfila’s world-​class reputation.

I met Leon about a dozen years later as part of Slow Foods, an international organization Epicurus himself would have appreciated. I had asked Leon if he would consult on a vineyard project involving unlimited resources. His first question was did I know anything about red wine. I said no. He asked if I liked red wine. I said no, but I liked the Brunello I tasted in Montalcino Italy a few months previously. He said then you know red wine. This vast overstatement started it all.

The 2007 wildfire avocado grove destruction led us to think that grapes would create a wonderful atmosphere. Brunello vines, of course, 2,600 of them, along with 1,100 other vines. Talk about failure to consider the end

Meet the Business Owner

Peter and Denise C.

Business Owner

Peter: Growing up in a then rural area of Grossmont, east of San Diego off to college in Chicago at age 16, Then along came just over 50 years of litigation, appellate practice, mediation, business and teaching. I continue in active practice with a national Martindale AV rating. BA University of Chicago, JD Stanford University School of law with credentialing in construction, real estate, and insurance. Our vineyard was planted in 2008, our crush building opened in 2011 and our tasting room opened in 2012.

Denise: Growing up in San Diego, I began my career in 1974 – 1981 in the U.S. Air Force, then with the Federal Government in Human Resources. currently for Department of Navy. We have watched our diamond in the rough turn into an amazing paradise for all to enjoy. We have two beautiful daughters and an amazing granddaughter. We share our little farm with 5 Llamas, 2 dogs, 2 cats. I love the different roles Peter and I share working the vineyard. It has truly become a labor of love.