The history of Dry Creek Vineyard is a long and colorful one. Founded in 1972 by David S. Stare, Dry Creek Vineyard paved the way for a renaissance of winemaking and viticulture in the Dry Creek Valley. Before his arrival, the Dry Creek Valley was little more than a few family farms and prune orchards. It was Dave’s vision to start a Loire Valley inspired winery, which triggered a viticultural reawakening in northern Sonoma County.

Without a doubt, David Stare is a pioneer. Heading west in the late 1960s, he personified the character and work ethic of early Gold Rush pioneers. Educated at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Dave worked for the B&O Railroad for several years but quickly realized that his true calling was in the wine industry. Inspired by his trips to the Loire Valley, he headed west to California to start his own family winery.

Upon his arrival, Dave began taking winemaking classes at UC Davis as a graduate student. On the weekends, he spent time looking at vineyard land from Monterey to Mendocino. It was during one of those weekend trips that fate drew Dave to the Dry Creek Valley. When he saw an old prune orchard across the street from the Dry Creek General Store, Dave realized that he had found his dream location. He purchased the orchard and began planting vines. Captivated by his memories of Loire-style wines, Sauvignon Blanc seemed destined to figure prominently in the Dry Creek Vineyard portfolio. However, several famed vineyard specialists advised him against planting Sauvignon Blanc. Always looking to push the envelope, Dave planted the varietal anyway and the rest is history.

Today, our second-generation family owned winery continues to evolve and grow to meet the demands of a global wine marketplace. The primary mission of our winery is to produce distinctive wines that overdeliver on quality. For nearly 50 years, this pursuit of winemaking excellence has led to many international awards and accolades.

We are 100% certified sustainable and are constantly looking to raise the bar in all that we do. We don’t cut corners; we go the extra mile. And above all, we care deeply about our wines, our vineyards and our customers.A fourth generation descendant of a California farming family, Don Wallace has been the driving force working to implement sustainable farming practices at Dry Creek Vineyard. His efforts and direction have established Dry Creek Vineyard as a leader in the movement in Dry Creek Valley and the industry as a whole.

As a board member of the California Wine Institute, he suggested early on to his fellow board members a new path toward farming – one that was much more in tune with creating a symbiotic relationship in the vineyard. Don argued for the use of fewer pesticides, less spraying and more cover cropping to create a biologically diverse ecosystem. That meant more beneficial pests, construction of owl boxes and raptor perches, and many more earth-friendly farming practices. This launched a new direction for the future that has dramatically impacted not only the winery but the entire way that we farm in Sonoma County.