Gold In Your Backyard: Ron Rubin and His 50 Lessons in Life and Leadership

Everyone deserves a champion.

That one person whom you know, that even when the chips are down, and there may be impossible hurdles ahead, they want you to succeed.

For A Balanced Glass, that champion is Ron Rubin.

Ron 's name is not likely familiar to most readers, as he is not one to tout (or shout) his presence in a room of his own remarkable successes, or the legacy he has created. But boy, oh boy, we have called on his strength, belief, and inspiration more than once over the years of building ABG.

We were introduced to Ron in 2019 by another ABG champion, and renown wine communicator, Jo Diaz - founder of Diaz Communications. Jo has been Ron's friend and collaborator for decades. In fact, Jo teamed up with Ron in 2019 to give away AED defibrillator machines to American wineries, after Ron suffered a cardiac arrest and was saved by an AED.

Cathy profiled Ron for ABG in 2019 about his journey into wine, and his deep desire to save lives (literally) through his AED program. Since 2019, together with Jo's relentless focus, Ron has given away nearly 450 defibrillator machines to wineries across the United States. You can read more about the "Trained to Save Lives" program, HERE.

Ron's wine career began alongside his father Hyman, a wine and spirits distributor in Illinois, before securing the rights to distribute Clearly Canadian Sparkling Water, then purchasing the Republic of Tea from the family behind Banana Republic, in 1994. Ron went on to turn Republic of Tea into one of America's leading importers and producers of prestige teas, herbs and tea blends from around the world. Today the company is led by his son, Todd as CEO, or as they prefer, Minister of Evolution.

The Republic of Tea slogan is, "Sip By Sip Rather Than Gulp by Gulp", an approach to promote mindfulness in tea consumption. And as we learned, is his approach to wine, nutrition, and health.

Tea and wine make Ron happy.

So does helping others in the community.

In late 2020, Cathy wrote the newsletter asking for readers to support us by buying the branded totes, water bottles that we had chosen to produce, to spread the ABG message.

Upon receiving that week's story, Ron simply asked, "How can I help?"

I replied that buying the items was a financial undertaking as Cathy, Tyke and I (still) volunteer our time and efforts, so the cost was out of pocket. Ron asked for my home address, and a week later, an envelope arrived with a check and a note that read, "I hope this helps,” with a check large enough to purchase the items, and then some.

I sat on my kitchen floor and cried tears of disbelief, grateful that someone believed in A Balanced Glass enough to financially contribute at that level.

Ron was the recipient of the very first ABG lapel pin, water bottle and tote bag, and remains our single largest financial supporter to date. (We still have some swag if anyone is interested!) Ron's funds helped underwrite the items, and some of the costs to keep ABG going that year, but most of all, his emotional support was the fuel to keep going.

In late 2020, Cathy and I finally met Ron at his pride and joy, the River Road Vineyards and Winery in Sebastopol. Ron had purchased the property in 2011 - the realization of another one of his dreams.

On a foggy Sonoma morning, we arrived at the winery, excited to meet the man who had supported us both, sight unseen. We pulled up in the parking lot and Ron strode to the car, his ABG lapel pin shining the morning light.

He was as excited to meet us, as we were him. We toured the winery, learning the history of his journey to wine, his progress on B*corp certification (achieved in 2022) and at every step we heard a saying, a lesson, or as we have come to know, as "Ron Gold."

We sat in the tasting room as Ron blind poured us a hot tisane. Something twigged and I identified it as the familiar scent of Australian lemon myrtle and said as such. Ron smiled like a proud papa. It was a new batch they were trialing and was sure he would catch us out.

Over the hypnotic scents of home, Ron shared his vision for a more sustainable industry, his team's b*corp efforts, and the "BlueBin" range of wines - Sonoma County wines bottled in 100% recycled PET bottles, and 100% recyclable. The "Blue Bin" a reference to the recycle bins that adorn the sidewalks on garbage night. The forever entrepreneur.

Cathy and I left that day with our hearts full, and the reminder that no matter how challenging some days felt, Ron was always with us, our magic champion.

Only last week, Ron again popped into our IN Boxes, asking for our mailing addresses. Sure enough, Friday morning, as I wrestled with yet another doubting moment, a FedEx driver handed me a package from "Republic of Tea."

The shipper contained a luxurious gift box containing a pre-release copy of his biography, "Gold in Your Backyard - Lessons in life, leadership and the Power of a Dream.” The package also contained a canister of vietnamese cinnamon tisane, one of his son's favorites. There again was a handwritten note in Ron's distinctive, all-upper-caps penmanship, wishing a good journey.

There are plenty of wine biographies, but here is a story told through 50 short lessons on entrepreneurship, and building a successful business, that is suited for today's wine professional.

To sit in the company of Ron is to be with a kind, creative and endlessly curious soul. His face lights up when talking about his wife, Pam, his son Todd, daughter Julie, and his beloved teams (aka citizens) at the tea and wine companies.

Gold In Your Backyard is a book that belongs on any fledgling wine professional's bookshelf. The quick-read chapters are filled with practical business advice (Three Keys to Success), reverence to the people who helped build his businesses (Women, they rule!), and words of inspiration - "Think Big! Be Bold! Be Brave!"

Ron's book, much like Ron, presents like that wise, favorite uncle figure – champion – offering advice that you never knew you needed.

Gold in Your Backyard is being released THIS WEEK, so if there's one book filled with practical and kind wisdom that you read this year, make it this one. You can buy it from Barnes & Noble or Amazon for $36 retail. I think he would be (in Ron's own way) quietly chuffed to think his insights had helped another person on their road to success.

Ron has been GOLD in ABG's backyard for many years, and may he be the gold in yours.