Our Founder

Ronald Joseph Siletto

October 16th, 1933 - July 11, 2020

Ronald Joseph Siletto was a fearless and optimistic first generation Italian American kid from Boston who went on to lead an incredibly interesting and fulfilling life.

Ron was born in Boston in 1933 as the only son of immigrants from the town of Cigliano in the region of Piedmont, Italy. They were poor but happy. He spoke only Italian until he was 6. He graduated from Boston College, served 5 years in the Navy and went into the corporate world which would lead him to the position of President of Almaden Wines, one of the largest wineries in the world. As President of Almaden, Ron was heavily involved in industry and associated with many of the legends who helped build the reputation that California wines enjoy today. He was one of them. Almaden owned extensive vineyards and two wineries in San Benito County and Ron fell in love with the area. When Almaden sold to Heublein in 1986, Ron bought the smallest Almaden property, the 25 acre Findlay Ranch in Paicines and started farming.

He fell in love with grape growing, San Benito County and the people who lived here. He became part of the community and never left. He passed away early on the morning of July 11, 2020 at the age of 86.

He was smart, charming, handsome and successful. He loved people, especially his wife Dee, his family and his friends of all ages and from all walks of life. He was a passionate learner and a curious and creative thinker. He genuinely enjoyed meeting and learning about new people and was an engaging conversationalist on a wide range of topics from business strategy to why the Sharks couldn’t win the Stanley Cup. He loved to laugh and made amazing friendships that lasted a lifetime. You could count on him. And he was an incurable optimist, always seeing the bright side and the opportunity in life.

We will miss him dearly. He was part of the fabric of our lives.