Rohnert Park, CA - Ron Rubin, of The Rubin Family of Wines, is honored to have committed a gift to the Wine Spectator Learning Center, the future home of the Wine Business Institute at Sonoma State University. The generous gift, one of the largest gifts in the campaign, will be used to build the Ron Rubin Student Commons, a place for students to meet and collaborate between classes and for guests to explore and learn about the Wine Business Institute.
Joining the Wine Business Institute's Board of Directors in 2012, Rubin has played an integral role in guiding the Institute towards meeting one of its primary goals, i.e., producing highly educated and competent leaders for the wine industry. Rubin explained, "The Sonoma State Wine Business Institute and my vision are one-and-the-same: to be the number one university in the world for wine business education and research. This Learning Center is essential for creating the wine industry's future leaders." The Rubin Family of Wines currently employs two such leaders: Winemaker Joe Freeman is a graduate of the Institute's Wine Entrepreneurship program, and Operations Manager Lori Knapp is a current student in the Executive Wine MBA program.
According to Ray Johnson, Director of the Wine Business Institute, plans for the new Wine Spectator Learning Center have been influenced by the Institute's mission to provide, transformational learning experiences for its students and the wine industry. "The Ron Rubin Student Commons will be a modern and inspiring space for students, faculty and the wine industry. It will encompass a wine entrepreneurship laboratory, an outdoor study terrace and a student hub with a multi-media experience that connects students around the world to those studying on campus" he added.
Construction on the new Wine Spectator Learning Center is expected to begin in 2016 and the doors will be open for classes in 2018. For more information about the Wine Spectator Learning Center or for information about making a contribution please contact Jessica Pozzi, Jessica.pozzi@sonoma.edu or 707-664-3347.
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About The Rubin Family of Wines
The Rubin Family of Wines is located in Green Valley of Russian River Valley, a sub-appellation of Russian River Valley in Sonoma County, The Rubin Family of Wines is committed to producing exceptional wines. Our wines are sourced from both estate-owned and local family-owned vineyards to bring you a beautiful experience that expresses the unique character of the varietals, vineyards and people behind the wines. Learn more at rubinfamilyofwines.com
About Sonoma State University's Wine Business Institute
Sonoma State University's Wine Business Institute is located in the heart of California wine country and was created through a public-private partnership between the University and the wine industry. It offers a B.S. with a concentration in wine business strategies (since 1998), an MBA with an emphasis in wine business (since 2008), and an executive MBA in wine business (since 2012). In addition, seminars and an online Certificate in Wine Business Management prepare students and industry professionals on topics such as accounting and finance, wine sales and marketing. Its faculty members are published experts, active researchers, and requested presenters on pressing industry topics locally and around the world. The Wine Business Institute operates within Sonoma State's School of Business and Economics, a fully accredited AACSB institution. Learn more at sonoma.edu/winebiz.