David Stare was a vintner and businessman who established Dry Creek Vineyard in 1972, revitalizing the wine sector of Sonoma County. Born in 1939 in Madison, Wisconsin, he earned his bachelor’s degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and his MBA from Northwestern University, later completing an additional year of enology studies at the University of California, Davis. After working as a civil engineer in Boston for Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, he acquired a property in Healdsburg which he soon developed into his winery, gaining recognition for its signature Fumé Blanc. Stare was also involved in numerous organizations in Sonoma, including the Sonoma County Wineries Association and Technical Tasting Group. In this interview, Stare discusses his initial search for a property, operations and expansion at Dry Creek Vineyard, and the history and development of Sonoma County. This interview is part of a group of interviews documenting the California wine industry.