San Diego, Jun 14 (EFE).- Sandwiched between an auto mechanic's shop and several modest one-story homes right across the street from the U.S. Navy shipyard in San Diego, Juan Diaz's materials-testing business has been a fixture of the working class Hispanic neighborhood of Barrio Logan for the past 20 years.
In the courtyard area are neatly arranged concrete cylinders and equipment. Several rooms house industrial laboratories fitted with compression machines, X-ray units and various devices that test metals, concrete and other materials used in construction.
On a Friday afternoon you might imagine finding workers with cans of Budweiser beer in hand, talking about the upcoming soccer game, making arrangements for a "carne asada" (barbecue) or unwinding after a week of work.
Not the usual place one might find a winery. But that's just the way Juan Diaz likes it.
In the back of the shop sits the Barrio Logan Winery, where Diaz is preparing to sample the eight barrels of Tempranillo, Sangiovese and Nebbiolo grapes brought up from Mexico's Valle de Guadalupe and now in their ninth month of fermentation.
After pouring generous quantities of this year's rather robust and heavy Tempranillo into half a dozen plastic cups, Diaz and some friends gauge the aroma, color and taste. Thumbs go up.
"I'm simple," says Diaz. "If it tastes good to me and my friends then it's good, that's the key. These barrels are like friends and I like to share with my friends."
Diaz is a man who finds laughter and joy in just about everything and is at home among his friends.
Inspired by a few of those friends, Diaz discovered the art of wine making in 1999. He became enamored with the process and the product, and what began as a hobby rapidly developed into a craft.
It also became an opportunity for Diaz to give something back to the community.
Several years ago he was asked to help raise funds for Urban Corps of San Diego County, a non-profit organization that provides career and education opportunities for young adults.
Diaz responded by helping to organize a fund-raiser, for which he provided both the wine and the venue. The event was a great success and as word spread, he soon found himself donating his wine to support various community organizations.
"People like Juan are God-sent people," said Sam Duran, CEO of Urban Corps. "There's a special place in heaven for them."
"He's very involved with the community but nobody knows it," Duran said. "He's a very generous person."
In addition to helping raise funds for community organizations, the Barrio Logan Winery is trying to raise appreciation for wines.
Arnold Lovio, an associate of Diaz, points out how awareness of cultural identity is growing, due both to older Chicanos who pass along the heritage and to Hispanic young professionals with money who seek out culture and identity.
With this has come a growing appreciation for wine.
"Besides the non-profit work, we're also providing an education about wine," Lovio says. "We're seeing a whole new culture of young Hispanic professionals that want to learn about drinking wine."
"There are a lot of Hispanic professionals who didn't drink wine in their families, but now that they are lawyers, doctors, political people, etc., they want to learn about wine," he adds. "Here they can ask; they feel at home and comfortable."
Diaz agrees and says the professionals, artists and activists are also seeking to give something back to their community.
"The idea is to always help out with something, to do something," he said. "I'm not interested in mass producing or going out and selling (his wine), no I want it for the neighborhood and the non-profits, because these are the people who give their time for free and how do you compensate that?"
"These are the people I'm working with and it's a very positive thing. They know the system. We need change? OK, let's get the Latino in there," Juan Diaz says.
