The Winemaking
Bernardo Winery produces wines from locally sourced grapes that suit the San Diego Terroir. From its founding in 1889 to the mid 1980's, Bernardo Winery wine was produced in the main winery building with its gravity-fed concrete fermenters and redwood vats. The wine production was then moved into a more modern configuration housed in the century-old building that once was the tractor barn.
While our modern winemaking facility isn't open to the public, guests can stroll through the historic antique winemaking facility of yesteryear, located in the winery courtyard. The Rizzo Family made sure to leave the old winery intact for history's sake, while still making wine on the property. There you can see the old ways, using large scale redwood barrels that were built over 130 years ago.
The winery today produces wines that are approachable and indicative of our climate and attitude in Southern California while still paying homage to the Old California winemaking styles. Wines are made with low intervention with a specific style in mind, whether its a classic Italian table wine or a sweet 'wino's' dream.
