Healdsburg, CA - Dry Creek Vineyard, the family-run winery known for their sailboat labels, has signed another year of sponsorship agreements with US SAILING, the national governing body for sailing in the United States. The agreement includes a contribution from Dry Creek Vineyard to support US SAILING's education programs based on sales of Dry Creek Vineyard wines. The partnership between the two organizations assists the efforts of US SAILING as the premier sailing industry expert in the United States, and extends marketing opportunities for Dry Creek Vineyard.

"Dry Creek has a long history of supporting the sport of sailing, and this partnership is a win for both of us," said Dan Egan, US SAILING Marketing Director. "Their support for our programs and events with a wine brand that connects with people who sail is a powerful approach that will expand the impact Dry Creek has in the sailing community."
 

US SAILING communicates with their members and the sailing community through their various communications tools, including their website at www.ussailing.org and their e-USSAILING weekly newsletter regarding the many programs and services they provide. 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 an 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 the owners of Dry Creek Vineyard, which makes for a perfect match.  In an era of economic decline and wine industry consolidation, mid-sized wineries like Dry Creek Vineyard are connecting 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 Stare 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."