A company is the sum of its people. We are certainly in the business of making and selling wine, but it’s the team that matters at the end of the day. Though some team members float in and out of our lives over the years, while they are here, they are part of our lives and our family.
For more than 25 years, Dr. Bob Jankelson poured his heart into creating something truly special at Tsillan Cellars. We’re honored to share the next chapter of that story. Dr. Bob has thoughtfully entrusted ownership of Tsillan Cellars to Ronan and Gillian Walsh, local Manson residents who share his passion for the winery, the people, and the Lake Chelan community.
Ronan and Gillian, originally from Ireland, moved to the Pacific Northwest in 2000 and have been proud full‑time residents of Manson since 2020. Ronan serves as a commissioner and volunteer firefighter with the Manson Fire Department and coaches track at Manson High School. Gillian runs communications for the Manson Fire Department and has worked in local wine tasting rooms. Their children attend Manson High School, and the family is deeply woven into the fabric of the valley.
While a new chapter begins, the heart of Tsillan Cellars remains the same. Dr. Bob will continue as Founder and Ambassador, remaining an active presence around the winery, just as he always has. The award-winning wines, talented team, Sorrento’s Ristorante, weddings, events, and the welcoming experience you’ve come to know and love will continue.
If you spend any time around the winery, you will eventually run in to Bob. Most people who spend any amount of time talking with him come away with an understanding that he is about much more than wine. Bob is self professed “romantic” and his personal philosophy embraces the people and the small things that make life memorable for each of us. One of his self expressions of his life view is making wine.
The entire winery was born from his vision to share something that was special to him. Though it’s unreasonable to expect that each glass of wine or each experience will be the best of your life, his goal is for every encounter with Tsillan Cellars to be special in some way.
