Owners Randy and Lisa Lynch purchased Bennett Lane Winery in August 2003―just when the California wine market was entering one of the largest recessions to date. “Many of our friends and colleagues advised against it, comments Randy Lynch “but if you study any sales cycle, the best time to buy is when business is down,” and the Lynch’s did just that. “Originally, we had simply been looking for a second home with vineyard land. Soon after buying a house in Calistoga, we found the Bennett Lane property.”

A combination of keen business acumen and an audacious attitude of “when the going gets tough,” is what gave Randy Lynch the wherewithal to grow RW Lynch Company (http://www.rwlynch.com), an advertising agency he started more than 25 years ago. A pioneer in its field, the RW Lynch Company was the first to successfully sell group television advertising. “We started selling group advertising to lawyers in 1984 with the Injury Helpline,” (http://www.injuryhelplineattorney.com) he says.

A Danville, California native, Randy’s memories of the Napa Valley date back to the 1950’s and 60’s when he would water-ski at Clear Lake. “The valley was dairy farms and orchards,” comments Randy. “I’ve always had a passion for agriculture. When Lisa and I decided to buy a second home some years ago, I knew I wanted to own a vineyard and grow grapes―and be able to enjoy the fruits of our labor,” he says.

While Randy and Lisa could have easily purchased vineyard property in nearby Livermore, they chose Napa because their favorite wines are Cabernet Sauvignons from the Napa Valley, “I take this business very seriously, and Napa produces the best Cabernet fruit in the country,” notes Randy. Currently, Randy and Lisa split time between Danville and their home in Calistoga, and as soon as their children graduate from high school (together they have five), they’ll live in Calistoga full time.

Randy Lynch has often found success in taking the road less traveled, and under his leadership, Bennett Lane Winery is the first to attempt to target sports fans―specifically race car fans―as a viable consumer market for premium wine. A long-time racing aficionado and race car driver himself, in June 2004, Bennett Lane Winery (http://www.bennettlane.com) was the first California winery to sponsor a Nextel Cup car in NASCAR. Randy teamed with driver P.J. Jones as Bennett Lane’s Dodge joined 42 of America’s top cars in the grueling, high-speed, 100-lap NASCAR race at Infineon Raceway, located at the gateway to northern California wine country. Bennett Lane continues to be the only winery to own a NASCAR team. “Wine is something I came into later in life, but racing is something I’ve been involved with since I was a teenager,” said Randy (http://www.lynchracing.com). “It is very exciting to blend my two passions right here among the vines.” While Bennett Lane’s goal in tapping this market is to change “beer drinkers to wine drinkers one race at a time,” it’s safe to say this California winery is on the fast track.