Stay updated with breaking news from Stoetz ridge. Get real-time updates on events, politics, business, and more. Visit us for reliable news and exclusive interviews.
Honoring the wine legend Ulises Valdez Virginie Boone FacebookTwitterEmail Ulises Valdez of Valdez Family Winery and tasting room pours for a customer in the tasting room in Healdsburg, Calif.Carey Sweet/Special to The Chronicle When beloved Sonoma County vineyard manager Ulises Valdez died suddenly of a heart attack on Sept. 12, the news sent shock waves through the local wine community. He was only 49 so full of life and so integral to Sonoma County agriculture. “Ulises would always greet you with a huge smile, a giant handshake and a hug,” remembers Mark McWilliams of Arista Winery in the Russian River Valley. “He just genuinely cared about his clients and their lives away from the vineyard. He was a giant in our industry because of his passion, drive and integrity. There is a giant hole in our community with his absence that won’t be filled. Ulises was a one-of-a-kind person that can never be replaced.” ....