Wine & Latin Food: They Said It Would Never Last

Fine Wine and Latin Cuisine Converge at East LA Meets Napa - A Benefit for
AltaMed Health Services Corporation

LOS ANGELES, July 10 /PRNewswire/ -- AltaMed Health Services hosted its fourth
annual East LA Meets Napa celebration, featuring the diversity of Latin
cuisine from Los Angeles area restaurants coupled with fine wine from
Latino-owned or -operated Napa wineries. The event, which took place at
historic Union Station, was attended by more than 1,000 wine and culinary
enthusiasts who enjoyed great music and 40 tasting stations with food from
some of the best Latin restaurants in the city.

The first official event to celebrate the pairing of wine with Latin cuisine,
East LA Meets Napa has historically been a showcase for emerging wineries and
culinary talents. Many of the participating business owners share an
immigrant experience, with some of the winemakers working their way up from
the fields.

"When we first created this event, we never imagined such a dramatic increase
in interest year after year from Latino entrepreneurs and wine and food
enthusiasts," said Castulo De La Rocha, AltaMed president & CEO. "We're
honored that the public has embraced this event and comes together each year
to support our organization's mission to provide quality, culturally relevant
health care to underserved populations throughout Southern California."

One of the many stories of emerging Latino wine entrepreneurs is that of El
Centauro del Norte. Creator Daniel Robledo, originally from Mexico,
immigrated to Napa in 1969 and worked along with his father in California
vineyards to help support the family. He worked his whole life in the
vineyards but always wanted to make his own wine. He eventually earned a
degree in Viticulture and became a Viticulturist-Consultant. He is now
realizing his dream in the creation of El Centauro del Norte - in partnership
with Riverbend Cellars - the only wine dedicated to the Latino community.

"El Centauro del Norte proudly supports AltaMed and what they do to provide
critical health services to Latino families and other diverse communities,"
said Daniel Robledo of El Centauro del Norte. "East LA Meets Napa not only
benefits AltaMed but also introduces the public to emerging and established
Latino-owned or -operated wineries and restaurants. We're pleased to be among
its participants."

In addition to El Centauro del Norte, other participating wineries were Alex
Sotelo Cellars, Renteria Wines, Robledo Vineyards, J Lohr Vineyards & Wines,
Karl Lawrence Cellars, Mi Sueno Winery, Ceja Vineyards, San Antonio Winery and
Cobblestone Vineyards.

"Wine is the compadre of food, so is East LA Meets Napa, AltaMed's Latin roots
culinary exploration is rapidly becoming our city's premier event to savor the
vast repertoire of Latin spicy delicious comidas y vinos," said Chef John
Rivera Sedlar of Rivera Restaurant.

Several wonderful restaurants provided food samplings including East LA
mainstays like Tila's Kitchen, Homegirl Cafe and Cook's Tortas. Rounding out
the list were Rivera Restaurant in downtown Los Angeles by renowned Chef John
Rivera Sedlar, La Casita Mexicana in the city of Bell, Phlight in Whittier,
Casa de Moles "La Tia," Guelaguetza, El Tepeyac and Porto's Bakery & Cafe.

The event is sponsored by East Los Angeles Doctors Hospital and proceeds from
the event benefit AltaMed Health Services. "It is a great pleasure to be
associated with an event that showcases the contributions of the Latino
community in the food and wine industry," said Araceli Lonergan, East Los
Angeles Doctors Hospital CEO. "This evening was a high energy celebration
that raised critical resources for communities in need and we look forward to
future collaborations with AltaMed."

AltaMed Health Services, a private nonprofit organization, is a major provider
of health and human services in the Greater Los Angeles area and the largest
Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) in the State of California. The
mission of AltaMed is to provide high quality, coordinated, comprehensive
health and human services to the underserved in Southern California, with
particular attention to Latino and multi-ethnic populations. AltaMed began as
the East Los Angeles Barrio Free Clinic in 1969, a volunteer-staff storefront
providing basic medical services. Today AltaMed's service area extends beyond
the immediately surrounding East Los Angeles area to Orange County.

SOURCE AltaMed Health Services

Jania Palacios of Arevalo Sanchez, Inc., +1-520-404-7643,
Jania@arevalosanchez.com, for AltaMed Health Services