Tribute to Ben Hernandez

On August 14th, 2020, the family of Ben Hernandez lost a son, brother, husband, and father of two young, beautiful boys. A second battle with non-Hodgkins cancer took his life- at the far too early age of 28- and left everybody that knew him with an enormous absence.

The Lange Estate Winery team also lost a thirteen year adopted son and brother.

We had the distinct privilege of watching Ben grow up here at Lange Estate- starting in the Fall of 2008 when we met him as a temp on our bottling line. It was a matter of days before he was hired to work harvest 2008 and shortly thereafter became a full-time member of our squad.

Shoulder to shoulder, we witnessed him growing into his multifaceted position here: learning viticulture, cellar work, and hospitality. His professional ascent paralleled his growth into a young man: helping his mother and family, beating cancer a first time, running the Dundee Hills half-marathon, buying his house, getting married, and fathering two beautiful boys. Many of us on the team have children similar ages as Nathan and Brandon- this is truly the most heartbreaking aspect of this tragic situation.  It's not hyperbole to say that Ben was family to us, we quite literally grew up together, under the demands of thirteen growing seasons, harvest seasons, bottling runs, and everything else the journeys of life threw our way.

The insane hours, challenges, pressure, and determination to grow and craft world-class wines create an environment of extreme gravity. It can be a cauldron that forges strong kinships, loyalty, teamwork, and affections. That is certainly the case on the Lange Estate crushpad- one that Ben affixed to immediately when he first arrived and improved in every way possible from there on out. His steadfast commitment to our company, his colleagues, and his family was tangible and his electric personality lifted every situation.

Ben’s void is and will be felt acutely across our Dundee Hills vineyard, cellar, tasting room, and crushpad for many years. In every sense of the word, professionally and personally, Ben is irreplaceable. 

While these are unprecedented and difficult times for all of us, but if we are writing or reading these words, maybe we should consider, for today, either simple act a truly wonderful blessing?

Ben always had a huge smile on his face and he'd want us to smile too. And then go make good on the promise of the 2020 vintage. Which we will.

The Lange Estate Family and Team


(Lange Estate Winery and Vineyards will be dedicating our 2020 vintage and harvest season to Ben Hernandez. All funds collected will go towards covering funeral costs and the remainder put into a fund for his family. Anything that you can donate is much appreciated.)