My parents, Mary and Dick, bought the ranch in 1967, establishing Hafner Vineyard. For the first 15 years, we grew grapes and my dad sold all them all to other wineries. In 1982, we built the winery and started producing wine under the Hafner label. On the crush pad back in 1982 were Sarah, Gerardo Lopez and me. Together, we have completed 44 harvests.
Gerardo has been an integral part of the Hafner Vineyard team. He was born in Palo Alto, Michoacan, Mexico, one of six Lopez sons. Amazingly enough, since our founding, we have had at least one of the Lopez brothers working with us and for several years, there were three! This past December, Gerardo decided to retire albeit not completely. He will return seasonally to help out as needed for which I am grateful.  
While vineyard work is what Gerardo enjoys, he has been known to help dig out red fermenters and work the bottling line (alongside his wife, Rosa!). As our most experienced tractor driver, Gerardo is a master of cultivation. This past Spring, we removed our oldest vineyard (due it’s decline); after the vines were removed and chipped, Gerardo was tasked with leveling the ground and seeding the block with cover crop. It was no easy feat because the soil was uneven, but Gerardo worked diligently (for days) to smooth the field.

Harvest is always an exciting and exhausting time of year. Typically, Gerardo delivers gondolas of grapes to the winery and when he arrives, regardless of the amount of work he has done, he always has a smile on his face. Both he and David (our Vineyard Manager) drive the machine harvester which requires precision and concentration. After the day’s picking is complete, Gerardo oversees the cleaning of the machine. This work is critical; the machine is quite intricate, and it is important to be aware of any issues that may arise on the next day of harvest. The better we maintain our equipment, the easier harvest will be.
Outside of work, Gerardo was an avid soccer player and has since switched to jogging multiple times a week. Rosa and Gerardo have three children, a daughter and two sons as well as several grandkids. We were honored a few years ago when their daughter arranged an anniversary party with Sarah and me at the winery and caves.

Gerardo's preferred mode of transportation for getting around the vineyard

When I think about what I will miss most about Gerardo, I know it’s his laugh. Whenever the crew is out working together, I hear the muffled conversation and then boisterous laughter coming from Gerardo. Nothing makes me smile more.

Years ago, Gerardo and Mom showed up to a team lunch wearing similar shirts and they got a kick out of it. 

While it is hard to say goodbye, I take great pride in the longevity of our employees. To me, it means that they enjoy working with us as much as we enjoy working with them. Together, we’re truly a team and that’s what makes Hafner Vineyard, Hafner Vineyard.