Ron Saikowski

Wine Columnist, Houston Community Newspapers

Ron Saikowski is a native Texan, born and raised in Wichita Falls. After graduating Texas Tech in 1973 with a Civil Engineering Degree, he took the job offer furthest from home in Georgia and married his college sweetheart two months later. Ron and his bride, Marty, returned to Texas in 1977 where they raised their three daughters.

Ron's first memories of wine were of his Mom mixing Mogan David with soda water for a spitzer. While in College, he secretly made wine in his dorm closet. Marty gave Ron an eight week series of serious wine tastings taught by Richard's Liquors for Christmas in 1978. This heightened his interests in wine and provided a greater appreciation for wines.

Ron's wine interests peaked after selling his consulting engineer firm in 2003. Ron has made numerous week-long trips to California visiting various wine regions for the purpose of enhancing his wine knowledge. He has interned at Alexander Valley Vineyards as a "cellar rat" and at Bernhardt Winery as an "assistant winemaker." Ron is currently making wine at Bernhardt Winery under their bond for his future winery which will be located in Conroe.

Ron has been a wine columnist for three years, writing weekly wine columns in The Courier (WINE WALK) and for Houston Community Newspapers (HOUSTON WINE WALK). He also writes for two monthly local magazines being People Scene Magazine (TEXAS WINE WALK) and Lake Splash Magazine (LAKE WINE WALK). As a result of his wine writing, he received the 2010 Texas Wine Media Award from the Texas Wine and Grape Growers Association.

Ron has conducted numerous wine tastings for a variety of groups from British Travel Agents to beer drinkers. Ron has been involved in major wine events such as "Wine and Food Week in The Woodlands" (wine captain for five years), Rotary Wine Dinners, "Around the World in 180 Minutes," and Montgomery County Fair Association's Wine Gala.

Ron still continues as a consulting engineer by day and a wineaux by night. What shows is Ron's passion for the things he is involved with such as engineering, wines, Church, Rotary, several non-profit Boards, and the Montgomery County Food Bank.