Bill & Dawn Williamson

In 1980, Dawn and Bill Williamson moved from Australia to San Francisco. After eight years in Silicon Valley building a successful software startup, they sold their company to pursue their dream of growing premium grapes and making fine wines in Dry Creek Valley.

This dream has taken over twenty-five years of planting grapes and producing highly acclaimed wines. Today Williamson Wines oversees growing of 14 varieties of grapes across 28 vineyards from which they make 45 different wines with total production of about 15,000 cases.

Their decision that the wines would only be sold direct-to-the-consumer has succeeded beyond expectation. With dozens of industry awards, the wines are sought after by knowledgeable wine lovers, receiving limited quantities via wine club membership.

Dawn’s continuing love of wine country lifestyle is demonstrated in the development of a U.S. wide distribution of small producer cheese and spice products. Working with her staff chefs, Dawn continually develops food and wine pairings as well as hundreds of new, easy-to-make recipes each paired with one of their wines.

Bill oversees the vineyard grape production and winemaking. A master at blending wines he has produced Californian wines which many believe to be amongst the finest examples of Bordeaux and Rhone style wines.

In addition Bill serves on the board of a two million case wine logistics company and is CEO of GrapeGears, a wine sales and marketing software company.

The couple travel extensively to wine regions around the globe hosting an Australian wine and food trip in March each year and a European trip in September.

Dawn and Bill live on their home ranch vineyard in Dry Creek Valley. They have three children and six grandchildren so Williamson Wines has a fine team of young talent to take it on into the future.