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What a weekend! The 19th Annual Pigs & Pinot has officially wrapped, and the event was off the charts! From the legendary father-son chef duos in the kitchen to the first-ever all-female gala winemaker lineup, this year set a new bar for Sonoma County’s favorite celebration of pork and pour. I have hundreds of photos on my phone, but I've narrowed it down to a few highlights in the reel below! ⬇️
There is a specific kind of gravity that settles over a room when sixty world-class Pinot Noirs are lined up for a blind tasting. This year, I had the absolute honor of joining the judging panel for the 2026 Pinot Cup, and I’ve been vibrating with excitement to share the results with all of you!
Stepping into their brand new home at Appellation Healdsburg, high spirits were everywhere and nowhere more than in in the judging room. As a journalist, I’m used to telling the stories behind the labels, but sitting on this panel means stripping those labels away and letting the wine speak for itself.
Evaluating this year’s field alongside Chairman Bob Cabral, Michael Jordan, MS, Jim Gordon and Spreti Valente, CS was a total masterclass. We spent hours "boaring" down into the details of balance and site-specificity. After the dust settled, the Russian River Valley proved it was really living high on the hog this year.
The Verdict: A Russian River Sweep 🍷
After hours of blind deliberation, the Russian River Valley didn't just show up—it dominated.
The Winner: 2022 Marchelle Wines "Harmony Lane Estate" (Russian River Valley)
The Runner-Up: 2023 Three Sticks Wines "William James Vineyard" (Russian River Valley)
A massive congratulations to Greg La Follette, Kevin Holt and Evan Damiano of Marchelle Wines. Their 2022 vintage was a total showstopper—pure elegance in a glass.
Michael Jordan, MS, Monique Soltani, Spreti Valente, Evan Damiano, Chef Charlie Palmer, Jim Gordon, and Chairman Bob Cabral
Ultimate Pinot Smackdown
The high-stakes "March Madness" style seminar where Master Sommeliers go head-to-head for the audience's vote.
Winner: 2023 Grail by Dan Kosta, The Approach (Sonoma Coast) — Represented by MS Keith Goldston
Runner-Up: 2023 Domaine Serene, Aspect (Dundee Hills, Oregon) — Represented by MS June Rodil
A Historic Milestone: The All-Female Gala Roster
One of the most moving parts of the weekend happened at the Saturday Night Gala. For the first time in the event’s 19-year history, the wine program featured an all-female winemaking roster. Watching these trailblazers take center stage was a beautiful moment for our industry:
Heidi von der Mehden (Merry Edwards Winery)
Anne Moller-Racke (Blue Farm Wines)
Eva Dehlinger (Dehlinger Winery)
Perri Haughwout (Perri Jaye Vineyards)
Ashley Herzberg (Innumero Wines)
Monique Soltani, Kristen Green, Mario Cantone
Kitchen Kinship: Side-by-Side at the Line
On the plate, the theme of the weekend was connection. There is something deeply moving about watching legendary fathers and their sons find their rhythm on the line together. It wasn’t just a lesson in cooking; it was a clinic in shared intuition—and the proof was in the tasting. Having the chance to share a seat at this table and dine on the meals made by these culinary masters was a rare privilege. Seeing that chemistry in real-time was incredible, but the absolute highlight was when that mastery finally hit our plates. Getting to taste food from those two generations working side-by-side by the greatest of all time….you just can't beat that
The Architects and the Heirs
The Duo | The Legacy in Motion |
Wolfgang Puck & Byron Lazaroff-Puck | Seeing the elder Puck’s infectious charisma paired with Byron’s focused, modern operational eye. As Byron takes the reins of the Fine Dining Group, the transition feels like a global icon handing over a visionary empire. |
Emeril & E.J. Lagasse | The "Bam!" hasn't disappeared; it’s just matured. E.J. brings a refined, technical elegance to the bold Creole roots his father planted at the flagship Emeril's, honoring the past while elevating the craft to new heights. |
Jean-Georges & Cédric Vongerichten | A study in precision. There is a shared language of minimalism and Asian-French fusion here that feels almost telepathic—two generations moving with the same rhythmic grace and quiet intensity. |
Dr. Tim Ryan & Jackson Ryan | The ultimate full-circle moment for American gastronomy. With Dr. Ryan’s influence as Chancellor of the CIA, seeing Jackson—now a chef at The French Laundry—apply that standard in the heat of the kitchen was a powerful bridge between education and elite execution. |
Why This Matters
While the wine and food were world-class, the real story is the impact. To date, Pigs & Pinot has raised over $2 million for charities like No Kid Hungry and the Sonoma County Community Foundation.
Being part of a weekend that celebrates excellence while funding the next generation of talent and fighting childhood hunger is, quite simply, why I love this community. I'm still coming down from the high of it all!
“As owners and operators of the best restaurants and wineries in the country, it is my passion to teach and help the next generation learn the crafts we have been so fortunate enough to master.” – Charlie Palmer
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