One of the rewards of success is the ability to help others be more successful in life. Rolando and Lorena Herrera of Napa Valley have worked hard for their success and are now living their dream.
Originally from Mexico, the Herreras are owners of Mi Sueño Winery, which produces truly exceptional wines that have won many awards and been served at the White House. After working in the wine industry for many years, Rolando and wife Lorena began their dream (sueño) project with 200 cases of Chardonnay in 1997. They have grown that humble dream and today Mi Sueño Winery produces 10,000 cases of estate-grown premium wine.
Using traditional recipes from Chef Maria Robledo (Lorena’s mother), three generations of the family helped present four delectable dishes paired with Rolando Herrera’s award-winning wines. More than 130 people dined under the Napa Valley sun, sipping on Mi Sueño wines and raving about flautas de pollo drenched with tomatillo sauce, sopes de carnitas con pico de gallo, and steak and rice chiles rellenos. The final dish was a coco flan paired with 2013 Sonoma Mountain Zinfandel.
“It was an extraordinary afternoon,” said Lorena Herrera. "My husband, Rolando, and I were overwhelmed with the support from our club members and the local community -- we are thankful for their solidarity with Puertas Abiertas, an essential organization to our Latino community."Lorena’s sister, Vanessa Robledo, is a well-known figure in the wine industry who now works with Mi Sueño Winery.
“We decided to launch an event purposefully to raise money to help the Latino community,” says Robledo.
Puertas Abiertas have so many diverse and helpful programs that help people find housing and jobs, or with reading programs for adults who have challenges reading and writing in Spanish.
With a goal of maximizing personal growth and family stability, Puertas Abiertas assists Latinos with many things, such as completing a college application or being a resource for people who have issues with their health.
Robledo says that the money raised at the fundraising event is going to the Abuelitas group at Puertas Abiertas.
“We have this demographic of older Latina ladies who came to this country to work and often don’t have the resources to take care of themselves,” says Robledo. “Puertas Abiertas also brings them together, which is empowering for them.”
Robledo gives a lot of credit to Melissa Rodezno, the Executive Director of Puertas Abiertas.
“She has done a wonderful job,” says Robledo.“I am an immigrant myself and I do understand how you feel when you are in a different environment,” says Rodezno.
“Puertas Abiertas help all kind of people, usually people working in the wine, hotel and restaurant industry and people working in the fields,” adds Rodezno.
Puertas Abiertas relies on volunteers, who Rodezno says are a mix of people who want to give back to the community.
“We have promotoras and credentialed teachers from the Napa Unified School District.”
“We’re all family – we’re all in this together,” concludes Robledo about the dedication to supporting the Latino community.
The Herreras’ dedication to sharing the dream is ongoing and they plan for the fundraising celebration to be an annual event that will benefit the community while pleasing wine and food lovers.