Kim Stare Wallace

After graduating magna cum laude from San Francisco State University, Kim began a career in the fashion industry that greatly helped build Dry Creek Vineyard’s dynamic brand. Eventually joining the winery in 1986 as Director of Marketing, one of her first achievements was the creation of nautical labels for Dry Creek Vineyard’s wines, an unprecedented move that has indelibly linked the winery to sailboats in consumers’ minds.

The success of her program was so visible that other wineries asked for her help. She obliged by starting her own consulting business, specializing in marketing and public relations.  Her efforts were rewarded with numerous packaging, advertising and public relations awards.

In the mid '90s Kim took on the increased responsibility of Vice President of the winery, involved in all decisions affecting the quality of the Dry Creek Vineyard experience. Her hands-on approach and desire to succeed meant she did everything from strategic planning,  to  tasting  and  ranking  multiple  barrel  samples,  reviewing the annual budget,

meeting with wine writers, planning promotional events and entertaining key customers.  As of January, 2008, Kim now writes a wine blog which can be read at:  www.wilmaswineworld.com or by clicking the link on our home page.

Kim continues to be involved in various industry organizations as well. Because her time is divided between long hours at the office and those she puts in being a mom, this list has shortened in recent years. She still makes sure, however, that the winery remains an integral part of industry associations such as the Winegrowers of Dry Creek Valley and the Meritage Association.

Quite literally raised in the wine business, Kim cannot recall a time when wines, vines, and vintages were not the focus of daily conversation. Some family traditions never change. Now Kim and Don live with their two young children, Taylor and Spencer, in a home nestled among the vineyards near Dry Creek Vineyard.