Looking back on 20 years writing this wine column, special people come to mind from this special region we call home. Here are a few.
Reno J. Morra grew up in Guasti, attended Chaffey High School, served in Korea and worked at Filippi and Thomas wineries for 20 years. He recalled when the scenery in our valley was nothing short of majestic – reminiscent of Italy’s Piedmont region that his parents and other countrymen and women left behind.
They immigrated to towns named Cucamonga, Etiwanda, Fontana, Grapeland, Guasti, Mira Loma and Wineville, filled with hope and desire for a better life in a new wine country, and a desire for their children to become Americans.
“My parents arrived in Guasti in 1934, and they lived and worked there for 17 years. My father was a foreman for Mr. Guasti’s Italian Vineyard Company, my mother helped with bottling. I was drafted, I worked summers for the winery’s machinist Vic Danzo, building and repairing cellar and vineyard equipment. We enjoyed life in Guasti very much,” said Reno, who resides in Alta Loma.
Mario Andretti, auto racing legend, is an Italian immigrant who spent time in a refugee camp in Lucca. Dedicated, gentle and kind, Mario found a place within California wine in 1996, becoming a Napa Valley vintner. He visited our winery and continues to make himself available for trackside interviews. He recently turned 76 years young.
Mateo Sanchez, of Mexico, arrived in Guasti in 1920 at age of 8, and worked in the vineyards (since 1927) of DeAmbrogio, Galleano, Hofer, Lopez, Masi, Tudor and others. He retired as a vineyard foreman.
Son in-law Greg Doonan shared Mateo’s story.
“He seemed to really enjoy the symmetry of the vineyards and his role in caring for them. He also loved tilling the soil with mules at Guasti before tractors were introduced. Clearly, he is disappointed that so many of the vineyards have disappeared. I have learned to appreciate the history of the vines through his eyes and stories,” wrote Doonan in 1999. Mateo passed in 2003 at 91 years.
Gino L. Filippi is a fourth-generation vintner and wine writer for Foothills Reader.
