Read about the Silversea experience

Southampton, U.K. to Stockholm, Sweden

11 Days - Silver Whisper - Voyage 4015
June 12 – 23, 2010

Come with me on this voyage to discover the homeland of Gustave Niebaum, genius of Inglenook. We will visit the land of 200,000 islands, the fjords of the Vikings and the palaces of the Tsars, while enjoying relaxed conversations about wine, art and the inside story of Rubicon Estate. There will be three days to explore St. Petersburg and Moscow, as well as a day in Helsinki and Stockholm. We will have vertical tastings, receptions and wine dinners together. I promise to bring along some vinous surprises especially for our wine club members. This voyage is aboard Silverseas’s exclusive, intimate Five Star Silver Whisper which hosts only 382 discerning guests. I sincerely hope you will join me in being among them.

Larry Stone, Master Sommelier and Gerant, Rubicon Estate

Larry Stone, Biography

Mr. Stone has had a varied and long career as a working sommelier.  He became the first American to win the title of International Best Sommelier in French Wines and Spirits in Paris and remains the only American to have earned the title of Maitre Sommelier from the Union de la Sommelerie Française. He is also an English-certified Master Sommelier, one of a handful who has passed the examination on the first attempt.  He was the 9th American Master to pass the exam in its history.

Larry has been the only two-time recipient of the James Beard Award for Outstanding Wine Service, once for Charlie Trotter's and once for Rubicon restaurant, and was Santé magazine's Outstanding Wine and Spirits Professional of the Year 2000.  Under his guidance, Rubicon restaurant earned the prestigious Wine Spectator Grand Award annually from 1998 to 2008.  The Guide Michelin awarded Rubicon restaurant a star from its first American edition until the restaurant closed.

Before joining Rubicon Estate as Gérant–General Manager in January 2006, Larry Stone was a member of the Board of Directors of the Coppola Companies, and had worked with Niebaum-Coppola Estate as an advisor.  With New York restaurateur Drew Nieporent, Larry created Rubicon Restaurant, in honor of the Estate which he now runs, in San Francisco in 1994.

He has also served on the Board of the Kronos Quartet, a highly acclaimed string quartet. In 2004, Larry was elected to the Board of Directors of the Court of Master Sommeliers and served until 2008.  In March of 2005, he became a Trustee of the James Beard Foundation, one of the most prestigious culinary organizations in the world, and helped to revitalize it with a new board and reinvigorated membership.  He still serves on the Board.

Larry has also mentored and encouraged many people in the wine and restaurant professions who have gone on to have successful careers of their own.  He has also worked with chefs Ryan Hardy (Chef, Inn at Little Nell), Paul Lemiuex (Patissier, Auberge du Soleil), Aaron Lindgren (Patissier, Beverly Wilshire & Charlie Trotters),  Richard Reddington (Redd), Tracy Des Jardins, Charlie Trotter, Stuart Brioza and Nicole Krasinski (Boulette Larder, Rubicon).

In addition to the above responsibilities he has created and continues to work on his own wine label, Sirita, named after his daughter, and he also has written for many publications and as a regular columnist for the Chicago Tribune and Playboy Japan.

Proud of his long association with Rubicon Estate and with the Coppola family, Larry enjoys the challenges of running such an historic vineyard and winery.