SAN DIEGO (CBS 8) - On the rolling cusp of Rancho Bernardo stands a living piece of local history. The Bernardo Winery, founded in 1889, has been owned by the Rizzo family since 1927.
"Back in the day, this winery was 600 acres. Now it's 13," Ross Rizzo said.
Though grapes are still grown on the property, many of the vineyards have been transformed into a quaint village filled with charming shops. One of them is the Sweet Shoppe, where local wines and gourmet chocolates are paired for your pleasure.
"You can have your chocolate and your wine too," Ross said.
This pairing experience actually begins in the Bernardo Winery tasting room.
"They'll help you pair the wine you were tasting in the room and you also bring down to our Sweet Shoppe with some chocolate," Ross said.
Then it's a chance to mix and match.
"If you want to pair chocolate with a strong, very full-bodied red, you want a high cocoa percentage. Whites can go either way. You either do a contrasting style and you can do a really high cocoa percentage with the white and really make it contrast.
"Or you can do a very complimentary, which is white chocolate. Actually, white chocolate doesn't have any cocoa in it," Ross said.
The Bernardo Winery Sweet Shoppe is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
"Great wine, great chocolate. We gain a lot of fans, there's no doubt about it," Ross said.
On some sacred old ground, they're breaking new ground, pairing two of life's pure pleasures into one palate-pleasing experience.
Bernardo Winery
13330 Paseo Del Verano Norte
San Diego, CA 92128
(858) 487-1866
