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.

General Manager of Browne Family Wines, CIRQ & CHEV Estate, Michael brings nearly four decades of leadership in marketing, advocacy, and fundraising to his work alongside founders Sarah and Michael Browne crafting small-lot Pinot Noir and Chardonnay that reflect California's finest terroirs. He previously spent eleven years as Executive Director of Sonoma County Vintners, elevating the region's global reputation. A frequent national wine-competition judge and sought-after charity-auction MC, Michael is a proud member of the Martinelli winemaking family — Sonoma County is his forever home.