After Krug-Cup-winning Master Sommelier Larry Stone won the prestigious Grand Prix de Sopexa title in Paris for Best Sommelier in the World in French Wines, he continued as a restaurateur and sommelier for the next 20 years, associated with Four Seasons Hotels, Charlie Trotter’s, and Rubicon.  At Rubicon he joined forces with NY restaurateur Drew Nieporent, Robin Williams, Robert De Niro and Francis Ford Coppola.

Larry has served as Trustee of the James Beard Foundation, on the board of the Court of Master Sommeliers and also served on the board of the Kronos Quartet.  He has won numerous awards and mentored a host of young sommeliers.  In those he trains, Larry tries to instill a sense of service and a respect for all people. A Seattle native, Larry has had a long love affair with the Eola-Amity Hills.  There he bought a highly coveted farm on an exceptional site in 2012.  He planned and planted Lingua Franca, using clonal and massal selection of vines to insure the finest quality material.  In 2016 Lingua Franca winery was completed, with Dominique Lafon as the consulting winemaker and the brilliant young French winemaker, Thomas Savre.

Today his sole focus is on Lingua Franca Estate Wines, the fulfillment of a lifelong dream.