Kim Stare Wallace was literally raised among the vines in Sonoma County’s Dry Creek Valley. Throughout her childhood, she watched as her father, David Stare, pioneered Dry Creek Vineyard, the first new winery to be built in the region following Prohibition.
As a teen, she worked in the office, cellar, and on the bottling line as well as accompanying her parents on countless sales trips, business dinners, and wine tastings. From this early start, Kim grew up with a passion and understanding of the wine industry.
After graduating magna cum laude from San Francisco State University, Kim began a career in the fashion industry that would greatly impact her later role at Dry Creek Vineyard. Joining the winery in 1987 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 consumer’s minds. Without a doubt, Kim can be credited for the creation of the winery’s dynamic brand imagery that lives on today with every bottle of wine produced.
In the mid-nineties, 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 and winery operations. She has seen the California wine industry mature through its ups and downs and is determined that her family winery will stay in the family.
In 2011, Kim became President of Dry Creek Vineyard. Her vision for the future of this dynamic family business is clear – to honor the past while innovating for the future to come. Together with her husband Don Wallace, the second generation has been instrumental in guiding the winery on its path toward being recognized as a Certified California Sustainable Vineyard and Winery.
Without a doubt, the family’s commitment to the environment and good stewardship of the land is tied to their desire to leave the winery to a third generation of family ownership.
Kim is a firm believer in the notion “there’s no way out but through” and leads with an authentic, passionate and honest approach to the business. She works to build an enduring legacy and deep sense of caring for her employees and customers.
In addition to her very full plate at the winery, Kim donates her time to several boards in Sonoma County including the Sonoma County Vintners, the Santa Rosa Junior College Wine Studies Advisory Board and Santa Rosa Junior College Shone Farm Foundation.
Kim has been recognized widely for her leadership at Dry Creek Vineyard. Most recently, she was selected as a 2025 Influential Wine Women Award winner by the North Bay Business Journal and as a 2025 Sonoma County Innovator by the Sonoma County Vintners.
Featured on the cover of Wine Spectator (March 31, 2021) and selected as a finalist for ‘Wine Executive of the Year’ for Wine Enthusiast’s 2019 Wine Star Awards, this savvy businesswoman, mother of two, wife, and second-generation winery owner is firmly committed to a “No Compromises” philosophy, producing appellation-focused, terroir-driven, varietal-defining wines.
Shop Related Products
