Meet the Talent
Within months of becoming the ninth Master Sommelier in the United States, Larry Stone made history as the first American to win the prestigious Grand Prix de Sopexa in Paris, earning the title of Best International Sommelier in French Wines. It marked the beginning of a career defined by excellence across fine dining, wine, and leadership at the highest level.
Over the following decades, Larry built an extraordinary résumé as both a restaurateur and sommelier. He played a key role in opening the Four Seasons Hotel Chicago before serving as General Manager and Sommelier of Charlie Trotter's Restaurant from 1989 to 1993, helping elevate it to global acclaim alongside its visionary chef-owner.
In 1993, Larry moved to San Francisco and co-founded Rubicon Restaurant with restaurateur Drew Nieporent and Chef Traci Des Jardin, alongside a notable group of partners including Robert De Niro, Robin Williams, and Francis Ford Coppola. Under his leadership, Rubicon earned a Michelin Star and an exceptional list of honors, including the Restaurants & Institutions Ivy Award, Food & Wine Silver Spoon, James Beard Foundation recognition in Who's Who, Wine Spectator's Grand Award for 12 consecutive years, and two James Beard Awards for Outstanding Wine Service.
Larry later joined the board of Coppola Companies and, in 2006, became General Manager of Inglenook/Rubicon Estate, while also serving as President of the Rutherford Dust Society. A lifelong advocate for exceptional vineyard sites, he conceived Evening Land's Seven Springs Vineyard with Mark Tarlov in 1996 and led the winery from 2010 to 2012.
In 2012, Larry acquired a prime parcel in Oregon's Eola-Amity Hills, adjacent to Seven Springs on Lone Star Road, where he developed the 66-acre Lingua Franca Estate. The winery, completed in 2016, reflects his vision of translating world-class terroir into wines of precision and place, with Meursault producer Dominique Lafon as consulting winemaker and Thomas Savre leading winemaking.
Larry continues to dedicate himself to wine, service, and education, mentoring sommeliers through the Court of Master Sommeliers. We are honored to welcome Larry as part of this year's PRWFF.
