Featured Guests
Damon Ornowski has more than 20 years of experience as a Sommelier. He began his career in wine at Pinons Restaurant is Aspen, Colorado where he worked as the Sommelier. In 1996, Ornowski became the 28th Master Sommelier in the United States. Since becoming a Master Sommelier, he has studied Vineyard Management at Napa Valley and has lent his expertise to a number of well-known wineries. His impressive list of past positions include Specialist in Viticulture, Wine Production and Sales for Rudd Winery and Vineyard, Western United States Account Specialist for Terlato Wines International. and National Sales and Marketing for Yabby Lake Vinyards in Victoria Australia. Since 2009, Ornowski has worked for Vin Divino overseeing national key accounts and working in wholesaler educations and with portfolio producers.
Eric Railsback was recruited by the Mina Group in 2009, while his talents as a sommelier caught the eye of Rajat Parr. Though only 26 years old, he brings over a decade of restaurant experience with him as a wine professional, spanning such programs as the Wine Cask in Santa Barbara, as well as Gordon Ramsay and Mozza in L.A.
Eric’s particular affection for the wine and culture of the old World has led to multiple trips abroad, where he has honed his command of the French language, while working harvests for such illustrious producers as Domaine Dujac in Burgundy, and Weingut Emmerich Knoll in Austria. He currently heads a team of talented sommeliers at the renowned, Burdundian hot spot, RN 74, in San Francisco.
Larry Stone is the Estates Director of Quintessa in Rutherford and works with Huneeus Vintners on other projects such as Neyen in Chile and Flowers in Sonoma Coast. He is also the Dean of Wine Studies for the International Culinary Center. Prior to this appointment, Stone was President of Evening Land Vineyards and general manager of Rubicon Estate in Rutherford. He is a two-time recipient of the James Beard Award for Outstanding Wine Service. An English-certified Master Sommelier, Stone passed the examination on his first attempt. He was elected to the board of directors of the Court of Master Sommeliers in 2004 and became a trustee of the James Beard Foundation in 2005. He is the only American to earn the title of Master Sommelier from the Union de la Sommelerie Francaise. His wine-buying and management expertise brought acclaim to the wine programs at the Four Seasons Olympic, Ritz-Carlton and Four Seasons Chicago hotels, Charlie Trotter's restaurant, and finally Rubicon restaurant, which was an iconic destination in San Francisco for 15 years.
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