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Larry Stone
Sommelier
- Discipline
- Other
i. Biography
The Making
Wine service at a high level is built first on palate training, then on repetition in dining rooms where selection, timing, storage, and guest read all meet at the table. Larry Stone’s foundation in culinary education gave him the working base for that register: taste, structure, and service discipline before public recognition entered the picture. The subsequent restaurant roles were the practical bench, where wine programs had to support the food, the room, and the standards of the venue rather than exist as decoration. Program building depends on more than collecting bottles. It requires range, condition, pricing judgment, producer knowledge, and the ability to make a list usable by both staff and guests. In the venues he worked through, Stone became known for shaping wine programs with that kind of service logic. His work also extended beyond restaurants into vineyards, where his contributions were part of the broader commercial and cultural life of notable wine properties.
The Current Chapter
The sommelier trade remains a service profession before it is a credentialed one. Larry Stone’s current standing in the wine world is tied to that principle: knowledge used in service of people, not as performance. His stated view of wine as a bridge between cultures keeps the bottle connected to hospitality, conversation, and context. Instruction and professional transmission are part of how the trade renews itself. As a dedicated member of the Court of Master Sommeliers, Stone continues to share knowledge with enthusiasts and professionals, including sommeliers developing their own standards of service. The through-line is not spectacle; it is practical fluency in wine, delivered with respect for the guest and for the people who produce it.
Accolades
Recognition in wine service usually follows the durability of a program: depth, condition, coherence, and the ability to serve the restaurant’s purpose over time. The Wine Spectator Grand Award associated with Larry Stone marks that level of achievement in curating wine programs to a high professional standard. The honor sits within a career defined by wine selection, hospitality practice, vineyard involvement, and ongoing contribution to the sommelier field.
Profile updated July 2026
FAQ
Asked of Larry
What does Larry Stone do now?
Larry Stone is founder of Lingua Franca.
What recognition has Larry Stone received?
Wine Spectator Grand Award.
What recognition has Larry Stone received?
Grand Prix de Sopexa title for Best Sommelier in the World in French Wines.
