While Mexican-Americans have been working the northern California wine country vineyards throughout Napa County and Sonoma County for decades, but only recently has there been a trend showing their movement into becoming vintners and owners. In Napa County vineyard owners of Mexican heritage are associated with Ceja Vineyards, Renteria Wines, Frias Family Vineyard, Mi Sueno, Quintessa-Rutherford, and Alex Sotelo Cellars.
Alex Sotelo, who was born in Mexico, began in the fields of Napa Valley as a late teenager, eventually becoming director of production and oenology at Robert Pecota Winery. That’s where he came to the conclusion that if he could make good wine for others, then he could make good wine for himself. Now Alex Sotelo Cellars sells two thousand cases per year of his wines. Two years ago he also created Alma Wines in partnership with two Mexican friends.
Ceja Vineyards boasts the first female Mexican-American winery owner. Amelia Moran Ceja, sees the trend growing, suggesting that she knows of five Latino families who have launched new labels this year. Her family has worked in the Napa Valley local wineries for three generations and has more than one hundred acres producing grapes for various labels such as La Crema, Mumm, Rombauer, Robert Craig, and Acacia. The winery began producing its own label wines seven years ago.
