Now is probably a good time to dust off that original notion of the American dream, in which education, determination, and hard work leads to success — even, if not especially, for immigrants. Add to that a love of family, a thriving next generation, and intense passion for an avocation — in this case, wine — and you’ve got the outline for the story of Amada Cellars , the vineyard and winery owned by Ramon and Sandra Guerrero.
More than two decades after buying their own slice of land and planting a vineyard near the Santa Ynez River, the Guerreros just opened their first tasting room on a prominent corner in Los Alamos. They’ll be celebrating with a party on April 19.
“Everything we do is crafted with love,” Ramon explained to me in an email introducing himself and convincing me to visit. “Amada means ‘beloved’ in Spanish. Our logo represents a dahlia. The dahlia is the national flower of Mexico, and this symbol connects us to our Mexican heritage. At the core of the dahlia is a heart. The heart represents the love, warmth, and compassion that defines our culture.”