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18 | OHCC LIVING | MARCH 2022 | The Altipiano Vineyard and Winery was born in the aftermath of 2007's Witch Creek wildfire which destroyed Peter and Denise Clarke's Escondido avocado farm. Denise is a longtime wine enthusiast and was inspired by a previous visit to the Tuscany wine region to own her own vineyard someday. After the disastrous fire, the Clarkes hired soil consultants to advise them whether their farm had good land for a vineyard and learned that it did. So, they decided to plant grape vines, much more drought-friendly than avocados, on their farm in June of 2008. In 2012 they released their first wines. "My vineyard brought the love I felt in Italy to fruition," Clarke says. "Altipiano was inspired directly from the fire. I didn't want to leave my home or the land that I loved, and Mother Nature chose my new crop for me." Altipiano Winery's tasting room is open Saturday and Sunday from noon to 6 pm. It is located at 20365 Camino del Aguila in Escondido. The vineyards surround a Tuscan inspired villa which has a barrel room, crush facility, lush gardens, and a patio. The winery, located above San Diego Zoo Safari Park, has beautiful panoramic views. Denise is one of San Diego county's trailblazer female winemakers, winning numerous international awards. Her focus as a winemaker is on Italian varietals including the Estate Sangiovese, Barbera, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petite Syrah. In the 2020 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition, Altipiano won two silver awards for their 2017 Merlot and Petite Syrah and a bronze for their 2017 Syrah/ Shiraz. Her other accomplishments include Double Gold 96 point for her 2015 Zinfandel at the 2017 San Francisco International Wine Competition, 2017 San Francisco Chronicle awarded a Gold Medal for her 2015 Syrah and 2014 Super Tuscan, and a Gold for her 2013 Sangiovese Reserve from Finger Lakes International Wine Competition. Only about 10 percent of California wineries are owned by women, and a smaller percentage are owned by people of color, so Escondido has the rare combination of a black and female-owned winery. Group 9 of OH Wine Tasting Club, Love Potion #9, had their February tasting at the Altipiano Winery. There were 13 members who went to the vineyard, brought appetizers, and tasted four wines. Everyone agreed that the wines were excellent and had a good time. The Wine Tasting Club is open to all OHCC residents for $12 annual fee. Wine Tasting Club