Larry Stone

Larry Stone became the first American to win the prestigious Grand Prix de Sopexa for the title of the Best International Sommelier in French Wines in Paris over 20 years ago. After winning this momentous title within a few months of becoming America’s 9th Master Sommelier, he continued as a restaurateur and sommelier, opening the Four Seasons Hotel in Chicago. He then became the sommelier of Charlie Trotter’s Restaurant from 1989 to 1993.

Wishing to be closer to vineyards again, Larry relocated to San Francisco to open Rubicon Restaurant with New York restaurateur Drew Nieporent and Chef Traci des Jardins. Partners with them were Robert De Niro, Robin Williams, and Francis Ford Coppola. There they established a restaurant with a wine program that attracted and trained some of the best young sommeliers in America. At the same time Larry started to make wines under the label of Sirita, named for his daughter.

In 2001, Larry became a board member of Niebaum-Coppola Estate Winery, and then in 2006 its general manager. Larry is currently a trustee of the James Beard Foundation, and he has served on the boards of the Kronos Quartet and the Court of Master Sommeliers. Recently, he moved to an exciting winery project called Evening Land Vineyards, which focuses on terroirs of fire, fog, fossil, and fracture. It manages vineyards and makes wines in distinctive vineyards in Oregon, Burgundy, Sonoma, and the Central Coast of California.