Many, many years ago I was involved with a small company that no longer exists and these were the days when wine lists here did not carry a single wine from either of the Americas.

Despite this, Bermuda was the original country to import and introduce a lovely selection from the first winery to be founded in Dry Creek Valley (Sonoma) since prohibition.

It actually got to the point where my new bride would say, “Michael you have to bring other wines home beside David’s as there is such a big world to learn about.” Truth is that I was just bowled over by the wines of Dry Creek Vineyards.

Last winter, while travelling through California, we decided to call this winery to see if our friend David Stare was still involved, as we thought that it would be wonderful to share a glass or two and talk of the old days.

We ended up having dinner together in the historic wine town of Healdsburg and what an absolute joy it was to experience the harmony and sophistication that Dry Creek represents today.

Shortly after it was announced that the next America’s Cup event would be held here, I received an e-mail from this winery that has featured classic sailing vessels on all their labels. They wanted their wines here again. The founder, David Stare, sailed with us back in the days when we had a rather wonderful Beneteau First 375 that was built in the Loire Valley of France.

He is a dyed-in-the-wool sailor, and starting back in 1977 Dry Creek Vineyards first sponsored a sailing team at the Sonoma State University. Having many tie-ins with sailing over the years the most recent event was in 2013 when they became an official supplier of Artemis Racing, the Challenger of the 34th America’s Cup. This is what Wine ReviewOnline.com says about the Dry Creek 2013 Chenin Blanc:

“90/100 — this wine might very well represent the greatest value of any California white wine. Its quality is unimpeachable and its pleasure quotient is off the charts. Melon, orange, white peach and ripe apple.” $15.85.

Dry Creek Sauvignon Blanc 2013 won a gold medal at the Sonoma County Harvest Fair. The Wine Enthusiast magazine awarded it 90/100 and wrote, “Another Sauvignon Blanc grand slam dripping with racy minerality, pretty floral aromatics and layers of fresh-squeezed lemon, and tropical mango.” $18.85.

Three weeks ago, before flying off to the land of David Stare’s birth, Wisconsin, I arrived home with a bottle of wine wrapped in a brown paper bag. Grinning from ear to ear I poured my wife a glass for comment. Her overall impression was of fine harmony and balance. She felt that it was delicious, but I am not sure if she detected that it was 76 per cent Zinfandel, 21 per cent Petite Sirah, 2 per cent Primitive and 1 per cent Carignan. In fact it was the 2013 Dry Creek Heritage Zinfandel that just won a double gold medal at the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition. If enticing aromatics of fresh blackberries, black cherries, raspberries, liquorice and Asian spices sounds good, then you really should try a bottle for $21.90.

The year 2012 was an exceptional season for grape growing in Dry Creek Valley and the Dry Creek Vineyards Merlot is a lush and finely balanced blend of 80 per cent Merlot along with small amounts of Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. As you may know, to carry a single grape name on the label, a Californian wine must have a minimum of 75 per cent of that varietal. $25.90.

The 2012 “Mariner”, a typical “Bordeaux type blend”, consists of 56 per cent Cabernet Sauvignon, 25 per cent Merlot, 8 per cent Malbec, 8 per cent Petit Verdot and 3 per cent Cabernet Franc. We shared this at dinner in Healdsburg and it is perfect for sailors, or landlubbers for that matter. It displays perfumed aromas of rose petals, cranberries, blueberries and oregano. It is smooth and polished from start to finish. Very enjoyable now, but put in the cellar and it will be even better in 2017 while watching “The Cup”. $46.75. We also have 2008 (92/100 Wine Enthusiast) magnums for $102.20 and 2012 engraved double magnums for $278.45.

Peter Isler, two-time winner of the America’s Cup, wrote to the president of Dry Creek Vineyard, Kim Stare Wallace, to say, “Any time I see a Dry Creek label on a restaurant wine list, I choose it, both because I know it will be a great wine and because of Dry Creek’s investment and commitment to our sport. Look for the bottles with the beautiful sailing artwork on the label and you won’t go wrong.”

• This column is a paid-for advertorial for Burrows Lightbourn Ltd. Michael Robinson is Director of Wine at Burrows Lightbourn Ltd. He can be contacted at mrobinson@bll.bm or 295-0176. Burrows Lightbourn have stores in Hamilton (Front Street East, 295-1554), Paget (Harbour Road, 236-0355) and St George’s (York Street, 297-0409). A selection of their wines, beers and spirits is available online at www.wineonline.bm