Kim Stare Wallace

The Path

At Dry Creek Vineyard, succession has been a lived practice, not a one-time handoff. Kim Stare Wallace’s role as president and second-generation owner is the result of years spent inside the daily workings of the estate, where family stewardship and winery operations overlap. Her connection to the property was formed early and deepened over time, giving her a view of the business that joins memory to accountability. What began in her teen years now requires the discipline to honor what was built while making decisions that keep the winery moving forward.

The Work Today

Private, family-led ownership asks for constant maintenance, and Wallace treats that as part of the job. As president and second-generation owner, she carries the structure of Dry Creek Vineyard in Healdsburg with a steady, practical view of what it takes to keep a family winery viable over time. She describes succession as active stewardship: “It has been my life’s passion to shepherd our family business thus far, and set up the future generations for success.” That approach frames the work in two registers at once: preserving character and making room for the next generation of decisions, without losing the identity that made the winery distinct in the first place.

Signature

Kim's signature wines include Dry Chenin Blanc, Fumé Blanc, Dry Creek Sauvignon Blanc Dry Creek Valley, Dry Creek Sauvignon Blanc Dry Creek Valley DCV3, and The Mariness Dry Creek Valley 2023. Taken together, they point to a style grounded in precision and place, with a clear commitment to wines that read as Dry Creek Valley rather than as generic category markers.

In Their Words “My goal is to ensure that Dry Creek Vineyard will remain one of the last truly private, family-owned, wineries from Sonoma County consistently producing 90-plus point wines.” “It is a privilege to continue the legacy that my father, David Stare, started nearly 50 years ago, while innovating for the future to come.” These lines set out the terms of her work plainly: keep the family structure intact, maintain a high standard, and make space for innovation without breaking the line back nearly 50 years. For Wallace, continuity is not passive inheritance; it is a requirement that has to be met with regular, disciplined choices.

Acclaim

The recognition aligns with the priorities already visible in the winery itself: family continuity, quality, and a long view of what it means to keep a private Sonoma County estate relevant and intact.