Press Releases

Robledo Family Winery Celebrates Cinco De Mayo with new Los Braceros Wine

Sonoma | CA

SONOMA, California (March 20, 2006)—There will be something special at the annual Cinco De Mayo celebration at Robledo Family Winery on Saturday, May 6, 2006 from noon to 4 PM. The celebration, rapidly becoming one of Wine Country’s premier events, features food by family matriarch and executive chef Maria Robledo, wine tasting, mariachi bands and the premier release of 2004 Los Braceros Red Blend.

Los Braceros is a red blend featuring Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Syrah. It is made entirely from grapes grown in the Sonoma Valley an area that greatly benefited from the historical Bracero Program. The program, enacted by the Federal Government during World War II enabled thousands of Latino laborers to work in California agriculture while the local labor force fought the war.

“My great grandfather, Luis Robledo arrived in California as part of the Braceros program,” explains Robledo Family Winery President Vanessa Robledo. “The hard work that his generation of Braceros put into the vines and grapes of this area made possible the consolidation of the entire wine industry in Napa and Sonoma. The character and spirit of these Mexican agricultural workers has since prevailed in California contributing to its wealth and greatness.”

Honoring the Braceros program was a “family” project and the family was looking for a way to contribute to the Vineyard Worker Services. The great 2004 vintage presented the Robledos with some excellent fruit and Los Braceros was born. The annual Cinco de Mayo celebration at Robledo Family Winery seemed the natural occasion to launch the wine and give the public its first taste. Robledo says “It’s like a big party for all of our relatives and friends. We figured who better to share this wine.”

Reynaldo Robledo, the family patriarch, came to the United States in 1968 to work in California vineyards. He spent three decades working in vineyards until he eventually was managing hundreds of acres for some of the most prestigious wineries in California. Robledo slowly acquired land and planted his own vineyards, formed his own vineyard management company and finally opened his own family winery . The Robledo Family Winery features the first tasting room and winery established by a Mexican Migrant Vineyard worker in all of North America. Tasting among the barrels sitting on the rough-hewn, hand-carved furniture imported from their home state of Michoacan, Mexico makes for a special experience.

This year’s Cinco de Mayo celebration takes place at Robledo Family Winery located at 21901 Bonness Rd. in Sonoma, California on Saturday, May 6, 2006 from noon to 4 PM. Maria Robledo will create a tasting menu of Mexican delicacies paired with Robledo wines for attendees. A mariachi band will entertain and for the first time guests will be invited to taste Los Braceros, the new red wine blend from the winery.

Cost for the event is $25 per person ($15 for La Familia Wine Club Members) and includes all food, wine and entertainment. For more information and directions visit the winery website at www.robledofamilywinery.com or call (707) 939-6903.