Show Notes
In this episode of The Good Stuff presented by the Sonoma County Winegrowers, hosts Virginie Boone and Karissa Kruse talk with Tim Bell, Director of Marketing for Dry Creek Vineyard.
Tim Bell, Director of Winemaking at Dry Creek Vineyard, has worked with a wide range of grape varieties and wine styles in Napa Valley, Sonoma, and the Central Coast: still wine, sparkling, dessert, even Kosher. He graduated with honors in winemaking at UC Davis, learning the intricacies of wine chemistry and microbiology that inform his stylistic choices in creating delicious blends. Early in his career, Tim worked at Freemark Abbey, helping to shape the wine style and vineyard program. Later, he became the Director of Winemaking at Kunde, gaining critical acclaim for his Sauvignon Blancs, Zinfandels and Cabernet Sauvignons. Tim joined the winemaking team at Dry Creek Vineyard starting in 2011, bringing in more than 20 years of winemaking experience to the team.
Away from the winery, Tim spends time outdoors with his family as much as he can, usually somewhere involving bodies of water. His other interests include music of all kinds and good food (and wine!). On weekends Tim can be found grilling up the tastiest burgers on the west coast.
Dry Creek Vineyard was founded in 1972 by David S. Stare, a visionary who defied convention to establish the first new winery in Dry Creek Valley following Prohibition. Inspired by his travels in France and determined to bring world-class winemaking to Sonoma County, Dave planted Sauvignon Blanc despite industry skepticism, sparking a viticultural renaissance in the region. His pioneering spirit laid the foundation for a family-owned winery that remains deeply committed to the land and community.
In the late 1980s, Dave’s daughter, Kim Stare Wallace, and her husband, Don Wallace, took on leadership roles, ushering in a new era of innovation and sustainability. As other family wineries sold to corporate buyers, they doubled down on quality, reducing production while refining their estate-driven, terroir-focused wines. By 2011, they had assembled a powerhouse team, including acclaimed winemaker Tim Bell, and expanded their sustainably farmed estate to 185 acres.
Family owned and sustainably farmed for over 50 years, Dry Creek Vineyard remains a benchmark for Sonoma County winemaking, proving that independence and integrity are the keys to enduring success. Today they own 185 acres of estate vineyards that are 100% certified sustainable all in the Dry Creek Valley.
Wine for sailors? Dry Creeks logo has a sailboat as the design, as the family has been avid sailors since 1972 and wanted to combine a Love for Wine with a Passion for Sailing! “Since 1982, sailboat imagery has graced our labels, capturing the spirit of the high seas and our passion for the sport. We believe that the art of winemaking and the skill of sailing have a lot in common. Like winemaking, sailing is fun, adventuresome, and daring. Like sailing, the art of winemaking demands skill, discipline, and plenty of help from Mother Nature."
And finally, Virginie and Karissa share their Tuesday Night wine picks!
