ANNOUNCEMENT: NEW BRAND AMBASSADOR, KALEIGH GILCHRIST
April 4, 2024
Head High Wines is pleased to announce two-time Olympic water polo gold medalist and professional surfer Kaleigh Gilchrist as a Brand Ambassador. Gilchrist brings world-class athleticism and her inspirational pursuit of excellence along with a passion for oceans to the Sonoma-based wine brand known for its commitment to environmental responsibility and ocean conservation; Head High is the first Ocean Positive certified winery by SeaTrees.
Environmental responsibility is paramount to Head High; its Ocean Positive – Climate Neutral certification offers the ability to create wines that are also kind to the earth. Head High is proudly the first Ocean Positive winery ever, offsetting emissions through rebuilding kelp forests, mangroves and watershed throughout the world. Simultaneously, Head High is investing in restoration projects in the world’s oceans and coastlines. The most recent efforts include rebuilding mangroves in Kenya and supporting a kelp restoration project in Palos Verdes, California. Reflecting on her new position, Gilchrist comments, “I was first drawn to Head High by the name. Being a surfer, the term “head high” caught my eye. [The term indicates that the size of a wave is the same size as a person’s height.] All the good that Head High is doing, whether it be ocean positivity or improving its own carbon footprint, aligns with my own environmental ethos to take care of our Earth, land, and water. The brand is so much bigger than a wine company and something I knew I wanted to be a part of.”
Born and raised in Newport Beach, California, Gilchrist enjoys an illustrious career playing competitive water polo and traveling the world as a competitive surfer. Gilchrist represented Team USA as a member of the women’s national water polo team in Rio in 2016, winning her first Olympic Gold Medal. She continued to split her time between the World Surf League Qualifying Series and Team USA in the pool. Bringing home a second gold medal in Tokyo during the 2020 Olympics was a dream come true. Gilchrist attended the University of Southern California, where she was the captain of the water polo team, which led to a national championship in 2013. During this same time she also won a championship representing USC as a collegiate surfer. Gilchrist continues to balance both sports with her eyes set on the 2024 Olympics in Paris, France, this summer.
Known for its grape-to-glass Sonoma County wines, Head High’s wines are made entirely with carefully selected, 100% locally grown grapes. “Since Head High was founded in 2009, our goal has been to over-deliver on quality while having fun and contributing to a better world,” said Prema Kerollis, the company’s co-founder.
