10/26/2026
🤎In Loving Memory of Gary Winder
1945–2026
Dear Friends and Family,
It is with profound sadness that we share the passing of Gary Winder, founder of Stage Ranch Farm Management, co-founder of Leoness Cellars and Temecula Valley W**ery Management. Gary passed away on Wednesday evening, October 21, 2026, at the age of 81, following a long and courageous battle with cancer.
Gary was an extraordinary man whose influence extended far beyond the businesses he helped establish and the land he spent his life cultivating.
His hands, hardened by decades of farming, were the same hands that so gently and thoughtfully carried, guided, and supported so many of us through some of the most important moments of our lives.
Gary was a man of few words, but every word carried meaning. He spoke with purpose, listened with patience, and lived with an unwavering commitment to his principles. His integrity, humility, kindness, and strength of character were evident in everything he did. Hard work was not simply something Gary believed in; it was a way of life.
He often reminded us that "the best fertilizer is your footsteps." It was a simple farming philosophy that spoke to something much greater: the importance of showing up, being present, taking responsibility, and caring personally for the things and people entrusted to us.
Yet, for all his dedication to farming and business, Gary also believed that "the shovel has to be put down at 3 PM." Not literally, of course, but as a reminder that work, no matter how important, should never overshadow the people and relationships that give our lives meaning.
Despite his education, accomplishments, and remarkable contributions to agriculture and business, Gary measured his greatest successes differently. His deepest pride and joy came from his family, his faith, and the opportunity to help others.
He was extraordinarily generous, not only with what he had, but with his time, his wisdom, his encouragement, and his belief in those around him. He never sought recognition for the opportunities he created or the lives he helped shape. For Gary, seeing others succeed was reward enough.
For more than two decades, Gary was a father, my closest friend, and one of the greatest influences in my life. He believed in us, often more than I believed in myself. He stood beside me with an unwavering confidence in what we could accomplish together. He was my greatest advocate. He gave me the opportunity to grow, the freedom to pursue our ambitions, and the confidence that comes from knowing someone will stand by you through both success and failure.
I know that I am far from alone in having experienced Gary's extraordinary generosity of spirit. So many of us are better people, personally and professionally, because he took the time to believe in us.
Gary is survived by his loving and devoted wife, Lana Winder, and his six children, Dan, Jen, Jeffrey, Michelle, Jessica, and Jacob. His love for his family and dedication to his faith remained central to his life.
Those of us fortunate enough to have known Gary, worked alongside him, learned from him, or simply shared time in his company will carry something of him with us forever. His legacy is not measured solely in the vineyards he planted, the businesses he built, or the accomplishments of a lifetime. It lives in the families he nurtured, the people he encouraged, the values he instilled, and the countless lives made better simply because he was part of them.
We celebrate a remarkable life devoted to faith, family, farming, and service to others.
On behalf of our families and businesses, we extend our deepest gratitude to Gary for his leadership, his friendship, his guidance, and the fatherly care he so generously extended to so many of us.
The work of his hands will endure in the land. The generosity of his heart will endure in all of us.
With love, admiration, and everlasting gratitude,
Rebaux Steyn
CEO
