As part of our 50 Years, 50 Stories campaign, we’ve been humbled by the memories our community has brought to us. Lauren Stafford, a longtime wine club member, reached out after a recent visit to share her family’s story. We’re honored to pass it along.
My dad, Ed Gerard, was a Duckhorn man through and through.
At every holiday meal, he brought people together — friends, family, neighbors, colleagues, even strangers. The door was always open. Sharing his favorite bottle felt like sharing a secret, an invitation into something richer. His wife Sue was always by his side, ready to pour. They loved to entertain.
He was a connoisseur in the truest sense. Dad kept a bottle of Duckhorn Merlot in his private wine locker at Morton’s in Cleveland — part of his personal stash, always ready for a good dinner with good people. A great steak, a great story, and his bottle. That was his signature.
My husband Tom is a classically trained chef — executive chef, Marriott; now VP of Food and Beverage for Commonwealth Hotels. Dad loved that Tom was in the business, though he never hesitated to offer direction. From how to spiral-cut a hotdog to achieving the perfect sear on a steak, he had an opinion. And always a Duckhorn pairing to match.
In 2022, Tom and I visited Napa Valley. Dad made us promise to stop at Duckhorn. We were captivated — the grounds, the people, the wines. That visit became our first wine club membership, and the beginning of an annual tradition. Every year since, we’ve come back and brought something home to share with Dad and Sue: a bottle, a shirt, a small token of the place he loved.
In 2024, we lost them both, just months apart. At the celebration of their lives, the stories came easily — travel, laughter, great meals, and the familiar debates over which cheese paired best with which wine.
Now, every time we open a bottle, we think of them. Duckhorn Merlot holds a special place, and a standing toast: to live fully, love deeply, and savor the journey with the people who matter most.
This year felt especially meaningful. We attended the 50th Anniversary celebration during the Kentucky Derby Release Party — a gift to Tom for his 50th birthday, following my own 50th in the fall. Twenty-five years of marriage, and a family legacy rooted in wine and connection. We dressed in our finest Derby attire, cowboy hats included. I wore my dad’s Stetson. A quiet tribute to the man who would have loved every moment of it: the energy, the storytelling, the laughter, and of course, The Discussion.
We left with new friendships, hand-selected bottles, and a deep excitement for what’s still to come.
Cheers — and thank you for being part of our story.
Every great bottle carries a story. We’d love to hear yours. Share your Duckhorn memory with club manager, Sasha Braden, SBraden@Duckhorn.com, or join the wine club and start a tradition of your own.
