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Sonoma State University

Ron Rubin had dreamed of owning a winery since he was an undergraduate studying at the University of California, Davis. Although it took him 40 years to achieve his dream, the Rubin Family of Wines strikes the right balance of people, patience, location, sustainability and quality to craft beautiful wines while supporting local communities.

Mr. Rubin’s company champions efforts to protect the environment through sustainable practices. His holistic approach to winegrowing includes owl boxes for pest management, drought tolerant and insect friendly landscaping, water-use monitoring in soil with irrigation and solar energy. His stewardship of sustainability does not end in the vineyard and winery.

Mr. Rubin believes in giving back to the Sonoma County community and investing in people. He has been a respected community leader for decades. His passion for building a culture of generosity and service throughout the state has been felt by many organizations including Food for Thought, the School Garden Network and the American Cancer Society.   

In 2017, he began the Ron Rubin Winery Trained for “Saving Lives” program. In collaboration with the American Red Cross, Ron Rubin Winery provides Automated External Defibrillator units and trains participating California wineries on the use of this life saving equipment.

Mr. Rubin has given generously of his time and resources to Sonoma State University. He has served on the Board of Directors for the Wine Business Institute since 2012, helping it become the preeminent wine business program in the country. In 2015, Mr. Rubin spearheaded efforts to develop the Wine Spectator Learning Center, a state-of-the-art education complex and home to the Wine Business Institute. His commitment to Sonoma State University is displayed everyday as he proudly wears the official team hat of the Seawolf baseball team.  Mr. Rubin was recognized by the North Bay Business Journal as the 2016 Innovator of the Year Award for his work in the wine industry and at Sonoma State University. 

In recognition of his outstanding leadership, advice and support of Sonoma State University’s Wine Business Institute, Seawolf Athletics and the Green Music Center, the Board of Trustees of the California State University and Sonoma State University are proud to confer upon Ron Rubin the honorary degree of Doctor of Humane Letters.