Winery creates Regatta
brand to promote excellence
and encourage participation in sailing
Dry Creek Vineyard, the family-run winery known for their sailboat labels,
has signed a two-year sponsorship agreement with
US SAILING, the national
governing body for sailing in the United States.
Dry Creek Vineyard
2002 Regatta White
The agreement includes
a contribution from Dry Creek Vineyard to support US SAILING’s education
programs, based on sales of REGATTA, a wine brand specifically created
for sailors and sailing enthusiasts. It also will partner the two organizations
in an effort to further the reach of US SAILING and extend marketing opportunities
for Dry Creek Vineyard.
Winery founder, David Stare, and second-generation proprietors, Don and Kim Wallace, are avid sailing enthusiasts and, for years, have sponsored regattas around the country. This agreement, however, together with REGATTA, commits the winery to a two-year sponsorship contract that dedicates a portion of proceeds from the sale of wine to US SAILING’s educational programs.
“Dry Creek has a long history of supporting sailing and sailors, and this partnership is a win for both of us,” believes Jack Gierhart, US SAILING Marketing Director. “Their support for our programs, and events with a wine brand that connects with people that sail, is a powerful approach that will expand the impact Dry Creek has in the sailing community.” US SAILING communicates with sailors and yachting venues regarding education and events through its website and newsletter and Dry Creek Vineyard’s sponsorship will help sustain their mission.
This arrangement also targets a key demographic, as sailors as well as the sport’s enthusiasts have ideal wine-consuming households. These consumers (53 years old with annual household income of $102,800, 29 percent of which have a net worth over $1,000,000) are also passionate about the same thing as Dry Creek Vineyard owners, which makes for a perfect match. In an era of economic decline and wine industry consolidation, mid-sized wineries like Dry Creek Vineyard feels it’s necessary to connect with consumers in lifestyle settings that match their recreational desires. Compelled to constantly compete for share of mind with consumers, this is another aspect of the overall marketing mix and push to deliver the winery’s quality message in a crowded marketplace.
The Dry Creek Vineyard family has expressed their passion for sailing with paintings of classic sailing yachts on their labels since the early 1980s. “Clearly, our goal is to increase our consumer base,” admits Kim Wallace, Vice President of Dry Creek Vineyard. “That’s a fundamental fact of doing business. What we want to do with US SAILING, though, is connect with and support sailors because we have a genuine bond with them. It’s the third most important thing in our lives, just behind family and wine.”
Founded in 1972 by David S. Stare, Dry Creek Vineyard is located in the heart of Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma County. The winery is known for producing some of California’s finest Fumé Blancs and Zinfandels. In addition to these “flagships,” Dry Creek Vineyard is also known for excellent Chenin Blanc, Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Meritage and, starting with the 1997 vintage, Endeavour Cabernet. Dry Creek Vineyard owns over 200 acres of vineyard land, primarily in Dry Creek Valley and the Russian River Valley. Their wines are easy to recognize due to the spirited yacht paintings that appear on each bottle from Dry Creek Vineyard.
The United States Sailing Association (US SAILING) is the national governing body for sailing and sailboat racing. Headquartered in Portsmouth, Rhode Island, the organization's mission is to encourage participation and promote excellence in sailing and racing in the U.S. US SAILING offers training and education programs, develops and supports a wide range of sailing organizations, associations and communities, and provides administration and oversight of competitive sailing across the country. For more information, visit
www.ussailing.org.
