Last spring, Santa Rita launched a nationwide search to find and honor an everyday hero who truly makes a difference in others' lives. Entries poured in from across the United States, but one man's story rose above the rest. Santa Rita fans selected Mr. Tomas Rodriguez from Houston as the most deserving and inspiring hero.

80-year-old Tomas arrived in the U.S. from Cuba in 1961 with just $10 in his pocket. His daughter Marisela Medrano nominated Tomas for his lifelong generosity in helping other immigrants transition to a new life in America. In 1996, he founded a volunteer English as a Second Language (ESL) program, which has taught hundreds of students and currently boasts eight teachers.

Tomas not only won a trip for two to Chile and a tour of the winery's historic estate, but Santa Rita is donating $10,000 to his charity of choice—his very own ESL program at Corpus Christi Catholic Church in Houston.

In the words of his daughter, "His greatest gift is the joy he experiences when he looks upon the faces of those he has helped. My father leads by example, which follows the teachings of his father—'my education is my wealth.' Tomas Rodriguez is my personal hero and a personal hero to the many immigrants' lives that he has touched."