About Us ~ Napa Sonoma Mexican-American Vintners Association (NSMAVA) is a 501(C)6 non-profit organization founded in 2010. NSMAVA's mission is to promote Napa and Sonoma wines produced by Mexican-American vintners, to advocate quality standards for its members, to promote and support the contributions of Mexican-Americans in the wine industry and to support education in the Napa and Sonoma Counties.
Mission Statement ~ To promote Napa and Sonoma wines produced by Mexican-American vintners to consumers in the United States and abroad, and to advocate quality standards for our members and to promote and support the contributions of Mexican-Americans to the wine industry.
Our Purpose:
%u25AA Promote: Our product in the United States and abroad.
%u25AA Support: Current and future Mexican-American Vintner members.
%u25AA Educate: The public about the contributions of Mexican-Americans to the wine industry; provide members opportunities to further their knowledge and understanding of winemaking and business; and provide opportunities for future vintners to learn about the industry.
History of MAVA: The idea of an association of Mexican-American wine producers was revived in May 2010 during an informal meeting of vintners gathered in the courtyard of a colonial era hotel in Morelia, Michoacán, Mexico. The vintners from Napa Valley and Sonoma Valley were in Morelia to pour their wines at the Michoacán State Fair on the invitation of the Governor of Michoacán at the suggestion of Rolando Herrera of Mi Sueño Winery. Rolando had been invited personally by the Governor and suggested to the Governor that the invitation be extended to other Mexican wine producers from California.
Over several days in Morelia the vintners were able to develop a strong bond, exchanged ideas and developed a greater level of respect for one another. The events organized by the Governor of Michoacán and the interactions with various industry and business leaders from the state made it obvious that a strong interest and desire exists for wine produced by the Mexican-American vintners. The pride shown by the representatives of the State of Morelia in vintners born from a common Mexican heritage strengthened the bonds between the vintners whom recognized that their similar personal histories and heritage have a value that can be leveraged not only in Mexico, but also in the United States where Mexican-Americans are one of the fastest growing consumer groups.
The vintners recognized the need for an association that could more easily take advantage of the member%u2019s common heritage and histories for all of the members benefit. The vintners also acknowledged that such an association would also have an obligation to highlight the sacrifice and contributions to the wine industry made by the farmworkers from which most of the vintners have come. The vintners agreed that is was no longer a matter of %u201Cif%u201D they should form an organization but %u201CWHEN%u201D one should be formed.
Shortly after their successful trip to Mexico, Rolando organized a meeting of the ten vintners that had been present at the meeting in Morelia to discuss their collective experience and how they might be able to harness the momentum that was generated. The vintners were still in agreement that it was now their collective responsibility to form an organization that would not only serve as a marketing vehicle but a source of motivation and support for future generations of aspiring Mexican-American winemakers and winery professionals. Over the course of several months and many meetings those ten vintners became the founding members of the Napa Valley Mexican-American Vintners Association.
