Harvesting Heritage In Temecula Valley: A Look At Hispanic Winemakers

TEMECULA, CA — Perhaps it's Temecula Valley Wine Country’s proximity to Baja California that makes it unlike any other wine region in the state. Here, Hispanic heritage, borderland culture, and Mediterranean terrain blend in every bottle.

Temecula is a place where cultures converge. Midway through Hispanic Heritage month, we are showcasing a handful of local winemakers, some of the most respected in the valley, whose culture runs deeply rooted in the wines they create.

Hispanic winemakers are flourishing at Doffo Winery, South Coast Winery and Carter Estate Winery, Akash Winery, Callaway Vineyard and Winery, and Raul Ramirez Bodegas y Viñedos.

Meet winemaker Nadia Urquidez of Doffo Winery. She was born in Ensenada and raised in San Vicente, and she brings her Baja background and a scientist’s training to Temecula. She compares Cabernet Sauvignon —with its fermentation aroma that reminds her of Mexican cuisine— as a sensory link between her homeland and her adopted home.

“The welcoming people in the industry, the solidarity, and passion about wine are what attract me to Temecula Valley,” she said. “Also, the hard work they do every day to put the name of The Valley on the map with high-quality, award-winning wines.”

During his 20+ years at South Coast Winery and Carter Estate Winery, winemaker Javier Flores has grown into one of Temecula’s most respected winemakers. Flores, who works with as many as 30 different grape varieties —a testament to the creative freedom Temecula affords —shared what he loves about Temecula and its significance to his heritage.

“I was attracted to Temecula Valley because of the proximity to my family in Tijuana and friends in the Mexican wine industry in Valle de Guadalupe,” he said.

Flores credits his upbringing in Baja for shaping his curiosity and versatility.

Winemaker Renato Saís, formerly of Avensole Winery and now of Akash Winery, where he collaborates with owner Akash Patel, is another example of the cross-border spirit that defines the region.

With nearly two decades of vintages behind him, he consults for wineries across Temecula, bringing both technical mastery and an unrelenting drive to raise the quality bar.

“I am living my dream job,” Saís said. “I am proud to say that I consider this wine country my home and have the most respect for it and for the people who are trying to do the same for this amazing Valley.”

Giovani Verdejo, born in Mexico City, grew up in a family of wine lovers. He began his career in Napa at just 19, and after more than two decades making wine in Northern California, he moved to Temecula to join Callaway Vineyard & Winery.

“Temecula had been on my mind for quite some time,” Verdejo said. “I have always loved Southern California, and when the opportunity at Callaway arose, I did not hesitate to move my family to be able to make wines here. The hot days with cool nights are not too different from where I started my career.”

Raúl Ramirez of Raúl Ramirez Bodegas y Viñedos, immigrated to the U.S. from Michoacán as a farmworker and eventually built his own winery and vineyards in Temecula. He blends a love of Andausian horses and wine with events that draw crowds to his popular winery.

He calls his journey “Harvesting Dreams,” a reflection not only of his own story, but of the larger narrative of resilience and possibility that characterizes Temecula’s Hispanic wine community.

Through Oct. 15, during Hispanic Heritage Month, Temecula Valley continues to celebrate these winemakers whose Baja and Mexican heritage continues to shape the region, reminding us that wine is more than just a drink. Their story, culture, and community are pressed into every glass.