Cordiano Winery, nestled in the San Pasqual Valley in Escondido, is almost too good for me to want to share. But in the spirit of my blog and the hope that everyone who enjoys a beautiful setting and good food and wine can spend an evening there, I will tell you about this very special place.
Gerald and Rosa moved to San Diego in 1991 and opened their first of many Italian restaurants, Leonardo's in Rancho Bernardo. The business flourished, and more restaurants were opened, all the while Gerald never forgetting his first love, winemaking. Then in 2002, Gerald fulfilled his dream of opening his own winery, calling it Primo Amore. The Cordiano family continues to embody his passion and dedication for producing fine wine. It's a family affair, and their love for what they do is evident in the food, wine and the warm feeling you get in this magnificent setting.
Just 15 minutes off the I-15, after traveling down a dusty, windy road, you will come upon Cordiano Winery. It's important to call ahead and make a reservation if you plan to stay for dinner. Everything is made to order. We had several wonderful wines at good prices (i'm not a wine conossieur so I can't tell you what they were), delicious warm breadsticks with olive oil and balsamic vinegar, followed by a fresh green salad, and pizza, pizza, and more pizza. They have an outdoor pizza oven where Jerry (the owner) cooked up many types of pizza. I enjoyed the vegetarian pizza with an assortment of fresh veggies. Our hostess, Vivian, had made chocolate dipped strawberries, apricots and almond clusters for dessert.
It wasn't hard to imagine yourself spending an evening in Tuscany. Rolling hills sparsley dotted with homes and vineyards and a rustling wind to break the stillness, made think of Italy. Hawks flew overhead looking for their dinner. The sunset was spectacular. The five minutes just before sunset is one of the prettiest sights I've ever seen.
Cordiano Winery will do private parties at the winery or catering. For a special event they will cook anything you want, although their specialty is of course Italian. Chicken, lasagna, veal parmigiana, they'll do anything you request. They also have a wine club that you can join, where you get first call on new wines all year long. It's a great setting for a wedding or any large party, but I would stick to summer months only, as the nights get very chilly. There were 31 of us on this occasion, and I can tell you I look forward to a return visit very soon.
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