Sonoma County Vintners Foundation has announced that Healdsburg’s Dustin Valette will be the chef honoree for the 2022 Sonoma County Wine Auction (SCWA). Jean-Charles Boisset will be honored as the vintner honoree.
Presented by climate-controlled wine storage company Vintec, the annual auction spotlights the philanthropy and community dedication of the recipients during events planned for Thursday, Sept. 15 through Saturday, Sept. 17.
“We strive for prosperity in the soil, sophistication in the glass and community at the table,” said Dustin Valette. “My family feels lucky to have deep roots in Sonoma County, surrounded by world-class wine and food growers, and we’re honored to be able to give back to the people who make this place so special.”
A Sonoma County native, chef and winemaker, Valette is the owner of farm-to-table restaurants Valette and The Matheson. He began his restaurant career as a dishwasher for Catelli’s in his hometown of Geyserville.
Valette honed his craft in some of the most celebrated restaurants all over the United States before returning to Healdsburg as executive chef at Dry Creek Kitchen. There he gained acclaim for cultivating strong relationships with local farmers and purveyors. He has been active in many charitable programs throughout the local community, including SCWA, where he served as culinary chair in 2017 and 2018.
“We look forward to honoring Jean-Charles and Dustin for their passion, their expertise and incredibly kind hearts,” said Michael Haney, Sonoma County Vintners executive director. “These honorees have spent countless hours giving back to our Sonoma County community, and we are grateful for their support in making this year’s SCWA a success.”
Funds raised at SCWA allow SCVF to support organizations with a focus on literacy, education, health and human services, the environment, arts and culture, and emergency response. To date, these funds have supported more nonprofits than any other fundraising event in Sonoma County. SCVF was able to make grants to over 90 nonprofit organizations in 2021, assisting thousands of those in need.
To learn more about the Sonoma County Wine Auction and organizations supported through fundraising efforts, please visit sonomacountywineauction.com. Ticket and event details for the three-day auction event, Sept. 15-17, will be announced soon.
