Champion Sailors Pay Tribute to Dry Creek Vineyard
Around Alone victor Brad Van Liew
shares cherished wine with friends
Healdsburg, CA (May 28, 2003) – After more than 28,000 miles of grueling ocean, Brad Van Liew claimed victory in the Around Alone race with an early sponsor by his side. Dry Creek Vineyard was the very first company to join Van Liew in his quest to win the Around Alone yacht race of 2002-3, and after eight months of battling the elements Van Liew proved a worthy recipient of their support.
“Brad’s determination and spirit to win was something the Dry Creek Vineyard family recognized early on,” said Don Wallace, General Manager of Dry Creek Vineyard at an event held May 17th at the Clarke Cookhouse in Newport, Rhode Island. “We are so proud of his accomplishments and we feel very rewarded that our early vision of his dream is now a reality.”
Don Wallace and Brad Van Liew
Van Liew took 1st place in Class II of the Around Alone event. His American victory in the race is only preceded by Mike Plant’s American victory in 1986. Van Liew is the fastest American to ever sail solo around the globe.
As Van Liew challenged himself on the racecourse, he lived a stark existence in a tight living module onboard Tommy Hilfiger Freedom America. Designed only for performance and speed, the Tommy Hilfiger Freedom America race boat held few luxuries. There was no dining room, no shower, and no refrigeration - just dehydrated food packs and a water desalinator. A rather simple life for a long voyage!
Brad Van Liew & Don Wallace
There was one luxury onboard, however. A couple bottles of Dry Creek Vineyard wine were carried in a custom crafted carbon fiber wine rack that was installed onboard to hold the treats in tightly as the boat pitched from side to side in rough seas and heavy weather. On special occasions, when deck work was complete and weather was being analyzed, Van Liew poured himself a glass of Dry Creek’s Heritage Clone Zinfandel and sat on deck to reflect his journey.
Van Liew was also generous in port, sharing a
variety of Dry Creek’s wines with fellow sailors, race
organizers, sponsors and the international media. The
camaraderie of the racers was evident as acclaimed British
sailor and the only female racer in the Around Alone event of
2002-3, Emma Richards of Pindar, cherished a bottle of Dry Creek
at sea as she crossed the equator.
Said Richards, “Just to let you know, my gift to Neptune when I crossed the equator this time was some Dry Creek Vineyard, Heritage Clone Zinfandel. Thank you Brad for that.”
To see Brad Van Liew's daily updates from the Tommy Hilfiger Freedom America yacht, please visit www.tommy.com/freedomamerica. Brad fed the site with diary entries and photos taken aboard the yacht almost everyday for eight months. Graphic depictions and footage of Brad and his adventures at sea are also available upon request.
Founded by a passionate sailor, David Stare, in 1972, Dry Creek Vineyard features classic sailing vessels on all their wine labels. This family winery is equally passionate about creating excellent wines in small quantities from 200 acres of estate owned grapes in Sonoma County. Dry Creek Vineyard supported Van Liew throughout Tommy Hilfiger Freedom America's entire campaign and is featured on a spinnaker as well as prominently on the boom. The winery has also participated extensively in Tommy Hilfiger Freedom America events by ensuring campaign sponsors and guests were served the highest quality wines.
