Stories poured & shared from wine country.

A lifelong Sonoma County resident and sommelier whose wine list at Equus earned Wine Spectator's Award of Excellence seven years running and "Best of Show" at the Sonoma County Harvest Fair. A judge at the San Francisco Chronicle, West Coast, Riverside International, and El Dorado wine competitions, Larry has hosted on CRN Digital Talk Radio for more than a decade — first as the voice of What's Cookin' on Wine: The Sonoma Report, now as the founding host of Vine, Wine & Dine. Among the winemakers he mentored: a young Michael Browne, who would go on to co-found Kosta Browne.

A fourth-generation Sonoma County native and Culinary Institute of America alum, Chef Valette trained at Thomas Keller's Bouchon, the Mandarin Oriental Honolulu, and Michelin-starred Aqua before returning home as Executive Chef of Dry Creek Kitchen for six years. In 2015 he opened Valette in his great-grandfather's former bakery; in 2021 he debuted The Matheson and rooftop lounge Roof 106, both Michelin-recognized. As founder of Valette Wines — a collaboration with Jesse Katz, Bob Cabral, David Ramey, Tom Rochioli, and Michael Browne — his 2021 and 2022 Cabernet Sauvignons earned perfect 100-point scores.

A 35-year veteran of the wine industry, Michael led Sonoma County Vintners and the SCV Foundation as Executive Director for nearly eleven years, guiding 250+ member wineries through wildfires, the pandemic, and a transformative chapter of growth — including foundation philanthropy that supported more than 400 nonprofits. A Nashville native who once raised $15 million in a single year for cancer research at l'Été du Vin, he's also the founder of small-production label Black Dog Cellars and a member of the Martinelli winemaking family. He brings the trade voice — and the deep Rolodex — to every conversation.