"I believe that Winemaker Leon Santoro has put San Diego on the wine map of the U.S. It has been a hard fight. We are like a mule in the mountains - putting one foot very carefully in front of the other - slowly convincing people you can grow very good wines in San Diego."
Ambassador Alejandro Orfila
California's Wine-Making Heritage
Starts in San Diego
California's multi-billion-dollar wine industry traces its roots to San Diego County. The Mission Fathers of Mission San Diego de Alcala (California's first mission) began making wine in the 1700s near the mission, about 23 miles south of Orfila Vineyards.
Orfila Vineyards is a 70-acre estate that grows 40 acres of premium wine grapes in the San Pasqual Valley, located within a 10,000-acre agricultural preserve owned by the City of San Diego. The picturesque hillside estate is 15 miles from the Pacific Ocean, at an altitude of 500 feet. The cool ocean breezes and morning fog create classic wine-growing conditions.
Grapes have been grown and wine has been produced here since 1973. The original San Pasqual Winery, the first winery on the property, was later purchased by Thomas Jaeger Winery.
Orfila Vineyards & Winery was established in 1994 when Proprietor Ambassador Alejandro Orfila purchased Thomas Jaeger. Winemaker and General Manager Leon Santoro, who had 19 years of experience at some of Napa Valley's most illustrious wineries (such as Stag's Leap Wine Cellars, Louis Martini and Quail Ridge), agreed to stay on and has continued to bring accolades to Orfila Vineyards.
When Santoro joined Thomas Jaeger Winery in 1991, the vineyard was full of Chardonnay grapes, planted in response to Chardonnay's popularity -- not because they were an ideal expression of the terroir.
Santoro asked a question that he has continued to ask and research ever since. "What grows best on this land? What wines will be a superb expression of our terroir?" He began by grafting Syrah and Sangiovese onto the existing Chardonnay vines. He chose these Mediterranean grape varieties that grow under similar conditions in France and Italy.
Orfila Vineyards has produced as much as 20,000 cases of ultra premium wine per year, making it the largest - and most illustrious -- winery in San Diego County.
