Beginning July 4th with opening ceremonies, the America’s Cup has come to the San Francisco Bay for the first time. As the official “Wine for Sailors,” we are especially excited by the opportunity to join forces with Artemis Racing as one of their official suppliers. During both the Louis Vuitton Cup and America’s Cup racing season, our wines will be poured at Artemis Racing’s lavish hospitality area at Pier 27 and 28 in San Francisco. In addition, we are also unveiling an exciting one-of-a-kind wine to help commemorate the occasion. Named Sailors’ Cuvée, this Bordeaux-blend brings together the winery’s best Dry Creek Valley lots, pairing them with our love of the high seas.
Since the mid 1980s, when we first put sailboats on our wine labels, Dry Creek Vineyard wines have become known as the wine for sailors. The origins of the nautical themed labels are purely personal. We have enjoyed a long love affair with the sport of sailing and have a profound appreciation for America’s nautical heritage.
Combining two passions, we were inspired to use the sailing ship theme on our wine labels. In 1982, when the original idea was unveiled, it was seen as a rather daring and risky move. More than 30 years later, the sailing ships that adorn the wine bottles are easily identifiable and recognized by consumers around the world. Since the beginning, Sonoma County artist Michael Surles has provided the beautiful paintings for the labels. Using a variety of mediums, from water color to richly oiled hues, Surles captures the spirit of the high seas.