Antonio Guzman Honored as Sonoma County’s Vineyard Employee of the Year

40-Year Employee at Robert Young Vineyards is one of 49 Vineyard Employees Honored

SANTA ROSA, Calif. (February 10, 2025) – In 1985, Antonio Guzman, following in his father’s footsteps, began working at Robert Young Vineyards.  Fast forward forty years and Antonio is not only celebrating a milestone anniversary, he was also excited to learn he is Sonoma County’s Vineyard Employee of the Year.

“He is such a talented employee and an even better person,” said Dan Rotlisberger, vineyard manager at Robert Young Vineyards.  He added, “Antonio has been an invaluable part of our team for the past 40 years. His work ethic, attention to detail and leadership are respected by all.    No matter the day or time, he is always there ready to help, often fixing things before they become an issue.  Antonio is a great representative of this award.”

Antonio and his contributions along with those of 48 other vineyard employees were honored at the seventh annual Fundación de la Voz de los Viñedos’ Employee Recognition Celebration for their talents, accomplishments, and leadership.  The Employee Recognition Awards are considered one of the most prestigious awards in the winegrape industry.  The employee of the year is selected by a panel of the foundation board members. Congressman Mike Thompson presented each of the honored workers with certificates and announced the employee of the year.  He also addressed the crowd and shared his appreciation for the honorees and their families.  He recognized the long tenure of the employees in the room calling attention to the unique and special relationships between the employers and employees.

“Our wine industry could not exist without our vineyard workforce,” said Karissa Kruse, president and chief executive officer of the Sonoma County Winegrowers and executive director of the Fundación de la Voz de los Viñedos.  She added, “We celebrate these important men and women  and honor them on stage in front of their families, employers, elected officials, and leaders in Sonoma County.”

Guzman, the Vineyard Employee of the Year, and his 2 brothers came to work for Robert Young in the mid 1980’s. He has resided in Geyserville  on the Robert Young property for more than forty years.  He  and his wife, Rosa, have one daughter, Dianna, who is currently a student at Cal Poly Pomona. Antonio is currently leading the effort to install new irrigation and sprinkler systems in vineyards that Robert Young is replanting.

After recognizing Antonio, both his brothers, Jose and Miguel “Calan,” were invited to join him on the stage with the Robert Young family.  It was a special moment for everyone in attendance and, in particular, for the two families who have worked together for more than four decades.

All employees working in Sonoma County agriculture for a vineyard owner, vineyard management company, or winery are eligible for the Employee Recognition awards.  Employers nominate individuals each month throughout the year to recognize exceptional performance in a variety of areas including leadership, innovation, safety, frost protection, conservation, pruning, canopy management and harvest.

The Employee Recognition Celebration pays tribute to the men and women who were recognized throughout 2024 as “Employees of the Month.” Throughout the year, the Fundación de la Voz de los Viñedos presents gift cards and recognition in the local community through advertisements, social posts and articles saluting the employees of the month and their success.

The Fundación de la Voz de los Viñedos is the only non-profit in Sonoma County whose sole mission is to support vineyard employees and their families. It was first established in 2002 by local winegrape growers to help fund education workshops in Spanish. Relaunched in 2016, it expanded its focus to include improving the lives of Sonoma County’s agricultural employees and their families to ensure the region remains a place where they can continue to live, work and thrive. Following the devastating wildfires of 2017, 2019 and 2020, the organization established its Vineyard Employee Resiliency Fund, which has provided more than $2 million in support to more than 1,500 agricultural employees with temporary housing, rent support and gift cards to purchase household items, food and essential supplies. Today, the Foundation remains a committed employee resource but has focused its programming on initiatives that elevate the workforce including its nationally recognized Leadership Academy.

Said Kruse, “I wish everyone could be here to witness the excitement   There is so much joy and energy in the room as each employee is recognized on stage and the employee of the year is announced.  This is what makes Sonoma County such a special place to live and work.”

About the Sonoma County Fundación de la Voz de Los Viñedos: 

Originally called the Sonoma County Grape Growers Foundation (SCGGF), Sonoma County Fundación de la Voz de Los Viñedos was first established in 2002 as a 501(c)(3) organization to help fund educational workshops in Spanish for agricultural employees. Relaunched in January of 2016, the Fundación is focused on improving the lives of Sonoma County’s agricultural employees and their families, while ensuring Sonoma County remains a place where agricultural workers will continue to live, work, and thrive.  Our mission is simple – support local vineyard employees and their families. Since its relaunch in 2016, the Sonoma County Fundación de la Voz de Los Viñedos has continuously proven it has a unique model of outreach and support, recognizing and relying on the trusted relationship that farmers have with their employees.  The Fundación has five strategic priorities: leadership; empowerment and recognition; workforce development; resiliency; and resources.  The two flagship programs are the Vineyard Employee Recognition Program and the Leadership Academy. In 2022, the first class of the Leadership Academy met to brainstorm names for the Foundation which would best represent them and the work they do.  They selected Sonoma County Fundación de la Voz de Los Viñedos  (The Voice of the Vineyards). The Fundación is managed by the Sonoma County Winegrowers with a 16-member board of directors comprised of agricultural leaders, vineyard and winery owners, and Sonoma County community leaders.

Image by: Will Buquoy

About Sonoma County Winegrowers:

Sonoma County Winegrowers (SCW), was established in 2006, evolving from the Sonoma County Grape Growers Association, which was first launched in 1983 by local grape growers inspired to work together to elevate the region. SCW is a marketing and educational organization dedicated to the promotion and preservation of Sonoma County as one of the world’s premier grape growing regions. With more than 1,800 growers, SCW’s goal is to increase awareness and recognition of the quality, sustainability and diversity of Sonoma County’s grapes and wines through dynamic marketing and educational programs targeted to wine consumers and influencers around the world. In 2014, Sonoma County’s winegrowing community embarked on a major initiative to have all Sonoma County vineyards certified sustainable. Today, 99% of the vineyard acreage in Sonoma County has completed certification by a third-party auditor making Sonoma County the most sustainable winegrowing region in the world. In addition, in 2020, SCW became the exclusive pilot partner for the California Land Stewardship’s Climate Adaptation Certification. In 2022, SCW began envisioning a Farm of the Future which it officially introduced in 2023. SCW’s sustainability efforts have been recognized with California’s highest environmental honor, the 2016 Governor’s Environmental and Economic Leadership Award (GEELA). Learn more at www.sonomawinegrape.org.