A PROMINENT FIGURE IN THE CENTRAL COAST WINE INDUSTRY PAST AWAY IN HIS SLEEP FROM NATURAL CAUSES OVER THE WEEKEND. STEPHEN PESSAGNO WAS THE CO-FOUNDER OF PESSAGNO VINEYARD ON RIVER ROAD IN SALINAS AND HELPED SHAPE THE RIVER ROAD WINE TRIAL. STEVE PESSAGNO WHO WAS 55, THROUGH THE VINEYARD ACHIEVED HIS 20-YEAR DREAM TO “PRODUCE LIMITED QUANTITIES OF LUXURY WINES THROUGHOUT MONTEREY AND SAN BENITO COUNTIES.”