It is with profound sadness that we share the passing of our beloved Master Cooper, Ramiro Herrera. Though his absence has left a deep void in the heart of Caldwell Vineyard, his spirit lives on in each barrel, and each of us who had the pleasure to know him.

Not just a master of his craft, Ramiro was the soul of our cooperage and a beloved member of the Caldwell Vineyard family for over a decade. Kind and generous, Ramiro had a passion for work and life that was contagious. As a master cooper, his talent and palate – honed and tuned like a fine instrument – were unmatched. His barrel-making artistry was truly as exceptional as the man himself.  

Beyond his craftsmanship, Ramiro was a devoted father and husband. He raised three children from his first marriage. With his second wife, he welcomed another son. In fact, they had recently celebrated young Aldo’s first birthday when tragedy struck. 

In March, Ramiro took a vacation at his house in Mexico, preparing to travel to Cognac to begin production on our next round of barrels. While there, he hired a few workers to help install a large stone countertop for his outdoor patio and cooking area. As they were maneuvering the slab into place, one of the workers lost their grip. Ramiro stepped in to help stabilize it, using his body to guide the stone – not realizing that the effort was causing major internal trauma.

Internal bleeding led to a severe infection in his legs, which eventually spread to his liver and kidneys. His doctor in Mexico was able to stabilize him and clear the infection from his organs, though some remained in his legs. Unfortunately, the damage to his liver was already extensive. He was transported back to the U.S., where he began a difficult recovery. He came close to being eligible for a top-priority liver transplant – his doctor even said, “Just one more week.” But sadly, his body couldn’t hold on.

Many of you had the pleasure of meeting Ramiro and experiencing his warmth, easy laughter, and immense knowledge, firsthand. Somewhere between the barrels, the wine, and our collective memories is where Ramiro’s life’s work and legacy live on.

Raising three fingers of whisky and a big glass of Cab in honor of one of the greatest guys we’ve known.

 In loving memory,

John & Joy Caldwell & The Caldwell Vineyard Team