Encanto Vineyards

Don Enrique signed for the Bracero program in 1946 (guest worker program due to a shortage of workers due to the Second World War).  He worked seasonally in agriculture throughout the United States, (the Dakotas, the Carolinas, Montana, Arkansas, Tennessee and Texas) living in substandard conditions. 

To make sure that workers went back to Mexico, they were paid through the Mexican government in Mexico. After his work with Bracero, Don Enrique came to California in the 1950s to settle down. He worked railroad construction in Stockton, the Santa Clara celery harvest, strawberry fields in Coyote and the vineyards of Napa Valley. After much travel and hard work, Don Enrique gained a steady job with Beringer in 1954. There he was able to obtain permanent residence in 1961. Soon after, he became employed by Robert and Peter Mondavis at Charles Krug. He also played the driver role for Mama Rosa and Cesario (their parents). Separated from his family in Mexico for many years, in he was able to bring back two of his children to Napa in 1968.