A Loaf of Bread, a Jug of Wine and an Aria

In a previous column dealing with the Tiered Winery Ordinance passed by the County Board of Supervisors, I wrote: “Since Schwaesdall Winery opened a tasting room in 1994, only one other winemaker has done it: Mahogany Mountain Vineyard and Winery in October 2010.”

I stand corrected. My apologies to the folks at , whose tasting room opened to the public shortly after the ordinance took effect, according to Operations Manager Paul Maurer.

“We’re fully licensed and compliant under the ordinance,” said Maurer of Salerno’s tasting patio, which  is adjacent to the adobe home and winery of co-owners Herman and Rose Salerno.

Prior to the ordinance, tastings had been available only to members of Salerno’s wine club, which is run through their website, www.salernowinery.com/ .

Now we get into the source of my title: the uniquely varied life and interests of Herman Salerno. Born in southern Italy, raised in Argentina, Salerno grew up to love opera, baking and wine. He wound up pursuing each of those interests  into successful careers.

A professionally trained singer, Salerno performed with opera companies in Argentina, Spain, Venezuela, and in the USA at the Academy of Music in Philadelphia and the Connecticut Opera.

Salerno went on to a second career running a successful bakery in Kearney Mesa  before selling it to San Francisco Sourdough Company in 1985.

He wasn’t through reinventing himself yet.

A love of wine led to amateur winemaking, and Salerno's skills at hand-crafting wine led down a new career path. For seven years, Salerno was a winemaking consultant at the Bernardo Winery, working with his good friend, winery owner Ross Rizzo, Sr.

“He made some beautiful Petit Syrah there,” said Maurer.

Petit Syrah was among the grapes Salerno planted after he and Rose bought six acres in Ramona in 1995. They also grow Pinot Noir, Barbera, Cabernet Franc and Muscat, said Maurer.

Within a year after its first commercial release, Salerno’s 2003 Petit Syrah garnered a Double Gold Medal at the 2006 Florida State Fair International Wine Competition. Since then, Salerno’s wines have earned 37 medals in competitions from New York state to San Francisco and San Diego.

Add three more to that total. They’re getting awards faster than their website can keep up. At the Winemakers Challenge International Wine Competition, held  in April  2010 in San Diego, Salerno earned platinum for its Lagrein, a red that Maurer calls “silk in a bottle,” and silver for its 2007 Perfection, a blend of red varietals.

On Feb. 5, Salerno’s 2008 Estate Ramona Valley Pinot Noir was awarded a bronze medal at the Ninth Annual Pinot Noir Shootout held in San Francisco.

“The competition was fierce,” said Barbara Drady, CEO of Affairs of the Vine, which holds the competition. Drady said a panel of judges tasted and evaluated over 350 Pinots.

Formal  presentation of the medal will take place during the Grand Awards Tasting on Feb. 26.

While formally retired from singing, Salerno has  been known to serenade guests at private functions. He has also been known to use his master baker’s skills to make a fine pizza or two at a wood-fired oven he built himself on his patio.

So wine-loving patrons may get a triple dose of artistry from this master singer, baker and winemaker.