| 2 for 1 Wine Tasting Coupon! | Shop Wines, Gifts & Events |
|
|
|
 September 28, 1950 - January 22, 2009 In January of 2009, Orfila Vineyards lost our winemaker and friend, Leon Santoro. He was with us for over seventeen years and he will be missed so very much. His vivacious personality and his quick smile were as welcome to Orfila as his considerable wine knowledge. So many visitors over the years were treated with stories and memories from Leon, and we pay tribute to his own story with us here. Born in Villa Santa Maria, east of Rome, Santoro was raised in a family of winemakers and chefs. He came to the United States at age 17 and enrolled at the State University of New York. After earning a degree in chemistry, he began his career in New York as a research chemist. Santoro's first job in the wine industry was at Louis Martini Winery in Napa Valley. Soon, he joined Winemaker Warren Winiarski at Stag's Leap Wine Cellars, where he assisted Winiarski with the 1978-81 vintages. These highly regarded vintages earned many accolades, including a Double Gold at the London Wine Festival for the 1978 Cabernet Sauvignon. In 1981, Santoro joined Quail Ridge Winery in Napa Valley, as co-owner/winemaker. He orchestrated the winery’s initial public offering, dramatically increasing the winery's capital. Quail Ridge was well-received by consumers and the trade press. In 1985, the White House presented Quail Ridge Chardonnay at a dinner honoring Prince Charles and Princess Di. And, in 1986, the U.S. Ambassador to Iceland purchased Quail Ridge Chardonnay for the superpower summit between Presidents Reagan and Gorbachev. In 1991, he accepted a position at Thomas Jaeger Winery and stayed on when the winery was purchased by Ambassador Orfila. Santoro was fluent in Italian and knowledgeable in Spanish, French and German. He traveled extensively through the wine districts of Burgundy, Bordeaux, Veneto, Piedmont, Tuscany, Chile and Argentina. As the general manager and winemaker at Orfila Vineyards & Winery, Santoro kept an eye on all aspects of the operation and was dedicated to furthering fine wine production in San Diego County. |
 |
 In 2003, Leon Santoro was named Winemaker of the Year by the California Travel Industry Association, following in the footsteps of such illustrious winemakers as Ed Sbragia of Beringer and Paul Draper of Ridge Vineyards. “When I came to San Diego’s San Pasqual Valley in 1991, my winemaker colleagues in Napa Valley thought I had lost my mind,” says winemaker Leon Santoro. “Despite their pessimism, I was determined to show them that grapes for fine wines could be grown here, and furthermore, that those grapes could be transformed into award-winning wines.”  |
| Privacy Terms of Use | copyright © 2008 Orfila Vineyards & Winery |
| 13455 San Pasqual Road, Escondido, California 92025 • Local: 760.738.6500 x 27 • Toll Free: 1.800.868.9463 |
| Web Design and Development by Comentum |