Photo courtesy of author
The food is at Hernán´s, if you want to find laundry soap go to Hernán´s. Phrases like these ones are daily among the people of San Antonio de los Baños, when referring to the unity of Commerce and Food, "El Floridita" center that he managed for twenty-eight years, a real people´s village and share his experiences with our readers.
Hernán Ramiro Pereda Valdés was born in San Antonio de los Baños on March 13th, 1934 and already at the age of nineteen he knew the responsibilities of being dependent on hold, because at that age he began his work as a winemaker at "La Casa Martinez" in Collazo and Nodarse, where he was for three years.
When did you know that would winemaker?
As a child I loved that job. I sat down to play with the boys of the neighborhood and was always dependent on hold. I think that comes from an uncle, Celestino Pereda, who taught me the first steps in this work.
You had your own winery?
Yes, of course. From 1953 to 1965 I owned "Pereda´s House ", which was among Collazo and Máximo Gomez.
And with the triumph of the Revolution it was occupied ...
No, not at all. I decided to give it to the government on May 15th, 1965 and the next day I was as an administrator in the unit "La Guajira". Where I stayed until 1968.
Remember other units in which worked?
At "Los Artesanos" from 1968 to 1971, in "La Granita", until 1976 and later in "El Floridita", where I remained until retirement.
Qualities to be a good winemaker
First you will like what to do, then a lot of honesty, reliability and excellent character with the client. You can never be brave. Sometimes if you're very cheerful, some people gets mad and if you're serious, people worry about whether you're sick or feel bad. This means you need to have an exquisite, personalized for any time of day.
Differences between a winemaker of your era and today´s
A lot, I tell you from the botton of my heart. Since there is no respect nor care before the client and in my time. That was sacred in those days. If you do not respect the customer for some reason, you were threw away at the time. Now some of them argue in public with clients and that leaves much to be desired in the population.
I imagine you have many experiences in the trade performance
I remember that once a client left on the counter 176.00 pesos and did not realize. Then I picked it up and when he returned, I gave it. If it was time to close at six o'clock in the afternoon and still had milk in the winery, I went door by door to deliver the product, I never left a client without milk, it hurts me a child or elder out of food.
Have you ever danced among beans, potatoes and peppers, as Aragon says.
Smile before answer and tell me.
See you how things are. That song was made to winemakers and I never danced, because I am not a good dancer, but humming from time to time.
Its said you are the best winemaker who has passed through the village. How to be this popular?
I don´t think so. Some are as good as I am, for instance Rosendo Contreras, Julio Rodríguez, Enrique González, Domingo Pérez, Luis Lloró and others that I can´t remember. If people say that I was the best I respect that view. I think that popularity is due to good client relationship and demonstrated honesty in my life as counter.
Were you recognized for your work as a winemaker?
Yes, fifty-five years in the profession and the government from San Antonio de los Baños gave me the "Seal of the Ariguanabo Foundation Village" I appreciate that, I have the medal of the twenty-five years of work on trade and National Vanguard since I started until I retired.
And the slogan that accompanied your work
That's what my father taught me. "Honesty makes us and mistrust made us angry." I worked all my life, I never had a shortage and not even a customer complaint.
What do you do now?
I'm retired, but I keep on ...
In what sense you say that ...
Yes, I stay because I am self-employed here in the house. I sail coffee in the morning and tea in the afternoon. That makes me feel good.
If they ask you to go back to the winery
I love it, that's my life, but the years do not come with me. See if so, the other day when I got up, I told my wife Margaret. I dreamed that dispatched errands and had tremendous line, but quickly liquidated and had no problem.
Not to lose the habit of winemaker. Hernán Ramiro Pereda Valdés, close my right hand and invites me to a tasty orange soda. We share together the delicacy and referred to me:
"Come back soon journalist, here's your house".
