Ron Rubin wrote GOLD IN YOUR BACKYARD to share the insights he gained from more than fifty years in business — lessons he learned from mentors, advisors, and books as well as from the hard decisions he made, the opportunities he discovered, and his lifelong commitment to building companies with purpose.
GOLD IN YOUR BACKYARD reflects his belief that the most valuable opportunities in life and business are often closer than we think — if we learn to recognize the gold in our backyards.
Ron’s career began in 1972 when he joined his family’s liquor distribution company in Illinois. Working alongside his father, he learned the fundamentals of leadership, financial discipline, and customer relationships that would guide his career for decades to come.
In 1994, Ron purchased The Republic of Tea, a specialty tea company based in Marin County, California. Under his leadership, the company grew into one of the most beloved premium tea brands in the United States, known for its distinctive brand identity and commitment to quality. Today the company is led by his son, Todd Rubin.
Ron’s passion for wine began much earlier. In 1971, while studying viticulture and enology at the University of California, Davis, he developed a dream of one day owning a vineyard in wine country. Four decades later, in 2011, that dream became reality when he acquired a vineyard in California’s Sonoma region. Today, River Road Family Vineyards and Winery is recognized not only for its wines but also for its commitment to sustainability and social responsibility as a Certified B Corporation.
Beyond business, Ron has devoted significant energy to philanthropy, education, and community leadership. In 2017, he provided seed funding to digitize The Maynard Amerine Wine Label and Menu Collection at UC Davis, creating a searchable online archive that allows scholars and researchers worldwide to access one of the most important collections in wine history.
That same year, Ron launched the Trained for Saving Lives program in partnership with the American Red Cross and ZOLL Medical Corporation. Through this initiative, River Road Family Vineyards and Winery has funded automated external defibrillators (AEDs) for wineries and supported CPR, AED, and first aid training for winery staff. To date, 450 wineries have joined the program, and thousands of winery employees have received lifesaving training.
Ron currently serves as President of the Board of the Sonoma State University Wine Business Institute, helping guide one of the leading academic programs in wine business education.
His contributions to business, philanthropy, and education have been widely recognized. Ron has received an Honorary Doctorate in Humane Letters from Sonoma State University, the American Red Cross Presidential Award for Excellence, and was named Culver Academies 2025 Graduate of the Year, an honor given annually to alumni who have made significant contributions to society through their professional and personal achievements.
Through his work and interests, Ron Rubin continues to advocate a simple but powerful idea: that lasting success comes not only from financial achievement, but from building companies and lives rooted in purpose, generosity, and the courage to pursue one’s dreams.