Dale Earnhardt Jr Reveals How His Dislike for Sonoma Grew His Admiration for Pinot Grigio Courtesy of His Australian Ally

What would you do if you loved the race but not the racetrack? It looks like Dale Earnhardt Jr has found a drowsy solution. Dale Jr, despite being a fan-favorite driver, never liked going to Sonoma Raceway. Over time, his distaste for the track turned into an admiration for Pinot Grigio; the white wine grape variety of the species Vitis vinifera, thanks to his Australian ally, Paul Morris.

Let’s dive into Dale Jr’s unique escape from the grind of Sonoma and discover how it led him to embrace wine culture. Is there more to this story than meets the eye?

The Sonoma saga and magic of Pinot Grigio

Dale Earnhardt Jr’s relationship with Sonoma Raceway was anything but love at first sight. “I hated going out there. I did not like going to Sonoma,” Junior admitted, reminiscing about his racing days on Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s Dirty Mo Media. The turning point came when his wife, Amy, started accompanying him. Suddenly, the dreaded trips transformed into mini-vacations. “Amy would be like, ‘Where are we going? Let’s go to dinner somewhere.’” From visiting Alcatraz to exploring Sausalito, the couple made the most of their time off-track.

One memorable excursion took them to Petaluma, a quaint town near the racetrack. “We stayed in a couple of different resorts over the last several years,” Dale Earnhardt Jr shared. But it wasn’t just about sightseeing, including his wine journey that began with a little help from his friend Paul Morris. “Paul owned a winery called Cimarrette in Australia, and he gave me some Pinot Grigio,” he recounted. Despite his initial skepticism, Dale Jr found himself enjoying the crisp, refreshing wine. “I was like, this ain’t half bad. This is a cool wine guy now.”

Paul Morris, also known for his racing career, became a pivotal figure in Dale Jr’s new-found appreciation for white wine. “Every once in a while, I get a bottle from him,” Junior revealed. This unexpected pleasure made his Sonoma trips bearable, if not enjoyable. As Dale Jr humorously put it, “Pinot Grigio made me look forward to the next Sonoma race.” But his ventures didn’t stop there; they soon ventured into the world of spirits with his own vodka brand, High Rock Vodka.

More about Dale Jr’s not-so-old “High Rock Vodka” venture

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After hanging up his racing helmet, Dale Earnhardt Jr diversified his portfolio with various ventures. Among them, High Rock Vodka stands out, a brainchild born from a visit to Sugarlands Distilling Co. in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. Launched in 2022, it still stands out, just like Dale Jr’s other ventures. “I wanted to have ownership in it and have something long-term that I could pass on to my kids,”  Junior told Forbes. Down to earth, Junior, didn’t want to showcase himself, so he went for something objective. He remarked, “They don’t need to know that I’m involved.”

Dale Jr’s true inspiration was his wife, though. He acknowledged her commitment and made the following remarks, “Amy had sacrificed many years of her professional career to support my racing journey. It was my turn to give her professional purpose.”

Lately, he has been resorting to innovative strategies to promote his vodka venture. The most recent is the 88-member crew that promises to deliver news and information about High Rock Vodka, backed by exclusive content from Dale Jr and his spouse, Amy. Their promotion campaign has been well received on social media, and fans are really excited. One of the fans commented, “I would love to try the High Rock Vodka! I’m sure it’s even finer with a Dale Jr Signature on it? How can I get a signed one and an extra to drink? ❤❤”

Dale Earnhardt Jr has claimed several chequered flags on and off track. Thanks to the support from his fans, not to mention his wife. His popularity is still the same, and it looks like nothing has changed for the two-time Xfinity champion. So, next time you get bored on a race track, you know what to look for!