In this episode of The Good Stuff presented by the Sonoma County Winegrowers, hosts Virginie Boone and Karissa Kruse talk to Prema Kerollis, Co-founder & General Manager of Three Sticks Winery.

Prema Kerollis began working with Three Sticks Wines founder Bill Price III in 2000 at Texas Pacific Group. Working closely with Price, who co-founded the successful private equity firm, she quickly became an essential part of his team and began helping Price manage his winery operations. As co-founder of Three Sticks Wines, Prema helped expand the winery’s allocation list from Price’s friends and family members to include a growing number of discerning pinot noir and chardonnay consumers.

Known for her joyful personality and generous laugh—her name translates to “giver of love” in Sanskrit—Prema was immediately drawn to the wine business by her natural affinity for hospitality. Growing up in Marin County, she learned from her mother and stepfather—both of whom worked in the restaurant industry—that hard work and fun need not be mutually exclusive and that the pleasures of wine and food are deeply life-affirming gifts. With an MBA in Wine Business, Prema understands the importance of good people, good products, and doing good business.

Prema applied her talents to the expansive world of Three Sticks and its incredible vineyards; and assisted Price with the design and creation of his other independent wine brand: Head High Wines, a Sonoma County Pinot Noir and Chardonnay brand for the newly initiated. Head High is dedicated to making attainable, delicious wines, ocean preservation, and fun. In 2012, she oversaw the preservation and design of the Vallejo Casteñada Adobe, now home to the Three Sticks tasting salon in downtown Sonoma.

Prema has served as Board Member and President of the Board on the Sonoma Valley Vintners & Growers Alliance, The Sonoma League for Historic Preservation and is now a member of the Sonoma Valley Hospital Foundation Board.

Three Sticks Wines:

Three Sticks Wines is a family-owned boutique winery in Sonoma, California, founded by William “Bill” Price III, a well-known figure in the wine industry and former owner of Chateau Montelena. Bill, nicknamed "Billy Three Sticks" due to the Roman numeral III in his name, established the winery in 2002, with Prema joining as Co-founder in 2004.

Three Sticks Wines, part of Price Family Vineyards & Estates, is dedicated to crafting small-lot, estate-grown Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. The winery sources its grapes from renowned vineyards, including Durell, Gap’s Crown, and One Sky. Under the leadership of acclaimed winemaker Bob Cabral, the production team focuses on sustainable farming and minimal intervention to showcase each vineyard’s unique character.

The winery’s tasting room, located in the historic Vallejo-Casteñada Adobe in downtown Sonoma, provides a rich, curated experience for guests. Bill Price’s deep connection to the land is reflected in the six Grand Cru level estate vineyards he owns in Sonoma County. These vineyards, including three Heritage sites—Durell, Gap’s Crown, and Walala—and three Monopole vineyards—One Sky, Alana, and William James—are carefully tended to, producing wines that showcase the harmony between exceptional terroir and thoughtful winemaking.

Sonoma Adobe:

Three Sticks’ commitment to stewardship of the land and people is reflected in its home, the Vallejo-Casteñada Adobe. The Adobe was originally built in 1842 by Salvador Vallejo, brother to General Mariano Vallejo, and has been lovingly restored as a Sonoma landmark.

1842: Constructed by Captain Salvador Vallejo

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In this episode of The Good Stuff presented by the Sonoma County Winegrowers, hosts Virginie Boone and Karissa Kruse talk to Steve Dveris, CEO of SD Media and Founder of Healdsburg Wine and Food Experience, and Dustin Valette, Chef/Owner of The Matheson, Valette Restaurant & Valette Wines.

Steve Dveris is a media sales and marketing content strategist, with 30+ years of expertise in event sponsorships such as FOOD & WINE Classic in Aspen, Pebble Beach Food & Wine, South Beach Wine & Food, Austin Food + Wine, Playboy Jazz Festival, Live in the Vineyard, Creator/Producer of Magnum Party at FOOD & WINE Classic in Aspen.

Steve started SD Media 30 years ago in Los Angeles and now has offices in San Francisco and Napa. SD Media's goal is to be the best independent advertising sales organization in the country with the most successful track record of selling integrated media and providing excellent customer service to our media partners and advertising clients. We have a staff of seasoned, dedicated media professionals who pride themselves on being the best at what they do and making people smile along the way.

In 2022, SD Media launched the inaugural Healdsburg Wine and Food Festival.

Dustin Valette is a renowned chef and restaurateur from Healdsburg, Sonoma County, with deep family roots in the area. After culinary school, he honed his skills in prestigious kitchens, including Thomas Keller’s Bouchon in Napa and Hokus at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Honolulu. He returned to the Bay Area as executive sous chef at the Michelin-starred Aqua in San Francisco.

Valette’s first executive role was at VOX Restaurant & Wine Lounge in Nevada, but he soon returned to Healdsburg to raise his family and work at Dry Creek Kitchen. There, he built lasting relationships with local growers and winemakers, becoming known for his food and wine pairings.

In 2015, Chef Valette and his brother opened Valette in downtown Healdsburg, a community-focused restaurant. In 2021, he expanded with The Matheson, deepening his connection to the region. Chef Valette was named Chef of the Year in 2021 and continues to be a key figure in Sonoma County’s culinary scene.

Dustin also has his own wine label, Vallete Wines, utilizing renowned winemakers: Bob Cabral, Jesse Katz, Dave Ramey, and Tom Rochioli.

HW&F Event:

Highlights include a Welcome Celebration, exclusive chef-led lunches and dinners, early access to the Vintners Plaza Grand Tasting, and VIP access to the Private Reserve Lounge at The Matheson Rooftop. Plus, gain early access to the wine country’s hottest event, our Big Bottle Party, and close the weekend with a special Sunday wine-down pool party. Enjoy priority hotel booking, shuttle service, and a welcome gift bag filled with goodies for an extraordinary Wine Country weekend.

Schedule

Thursday, May 15:

• • Welcome Celebration | 6 pm - 8 pm

Friday, May 16:

• • Platinum Lunch | 12 pm - 3 pm

• • Platinum Dinner | 6 pm - 9 pm

Saturday, May 17

• • Reserve Lounge at The Matheson Rooftop | 11 AM - 5 PM

• • Vintners Plaza Grand Tasting | 11:45 AM - 4:30 PM
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In this episode of The Good Stuff presented by the Sonoma County Winegrowers, hosts Virginie Boone and Karissa Kruse talk to Lauren Fremont & Amanda Brower from Dry Creek Valley Winegrowers.

Dry Creek Valley:

With roots reaching back 140 years, Dry Creek Valley’s history in winegrape growing is among the longest in California. Its fertile landscape attracted settlers soon after the California Gold Rush of 1849. By the late 1880s, the valley had nine wineries and 883 acres of vineyards – the majority planted to Zinfandel, for which Dry Creek is best known. Prohibition ended this first wine boom, with just two wineries remaining after its repeal in 1933, Frei Brothers and J. Pedroncelli, which is still operating today. While some vineyards continued, prunes and pears became the valley mainstay until the California wine revival began in the 1970’s, bringing a dramatic expansion of vineyards and wineries. And in 1983, Dry Creek Valley became one of the first California wine regions to be recognized as an official American Viticultural Area (AVA).

Today, nearly 9,000 acres of vineyards carpet the valley, providing exceptional fruit to over 70 wineries, the majority of which remain family-owned.

Passport to Dry Creek Valley:

Passport to Dry Creek Valley is an annual wine event in Sonoma County, California, that celebrates the region’s winemaking heritage. Launched in 1990 by the Winegrowers of Dry Creek Valley, the event was designed to showcase the area's diverse wineries and their wines.

Over the years, Passport has evolved into an immersive experience featuring themed tastings, vineyard tours, gourmet food pairings, and live entertainment. Participating wineries create unique experiences for guests and the event has played a significant role in promoting Dry Creek Valley as a premier winegrowing region, attracting both wine enthusiasts and industry professionals. After a brief hiatus during the pandemic, the festival has continued to evolve while staying true to its mission of celebrating the valley's rich winemaking traditions.

Lauren Fremont - Executive Director, Winegrowers of Dry Creek Valley

The Paris-native was quite the traveler from a young age. Paris to Geneva to NYC by 8 years old. Lauren studied marketing and art at UMass Amherst and immediately after graduating had the entrepreneurial bug and started a small catering company. This is where her love of wine and food really got going. In 2003 she began working in fine-dining event management for the likes of Drew Neiporent/ TriBeCa Film Festival, Thomas Keller, and Daniel Boulud. In 2009 she started her own luxury event company and expanded internationally, producing $2M+ events and earning recognition from Martha Stewart Weddings and New York Magazine. By 2019 she became the Director of Experiences at Boston Ballet, leading a record-breaking $2.5M annual galas and increasing donor engagement. Lauren made the move to California in 2022 and became the Executive Director at Winegrowers of Dry Creek Valley, to revitalize brand trust, secured sponsorships, and lead large-scale events.

Amanda Brower - PR & Marketing Manager, Winegrowers of Dry Creek Valley

Amanda grew up moving around frequently as a child, thanks to her father’s 30-year career in the Navy. That early experience instilled in her a deep appreciation for community and a natural love for connecting with people. She put down roots, with her mother and stepfather, in Marin County at 14 and has since called the Bay Area home, spending time between Marin, San Francisco, and Sonoma County. For the past 10 years, she’s been happily settled in Santa Rosa, with two dogs and recently became three!