KERRIN LAZ, OWNER

Kerrin Laz grew up on the east end of Long Island, New York, where her parents inspired her love for cooking with fresh, local ingredients from farmstands, butcher shops, and fish markets. It was here she first discovered wine and viticulture as nearby sod fields and potato farms became vineyards. Kerrin later attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she expanded her palate and industry knowledge while working at renowned establishments like Crook’s Corner and Anotherthyme. These experiences sparked her passion for the natural pairing of wine and food.

For 12 years, Kerrin worked at DEAN & DELUCA, specializing in wine tasting, sourcing, and marketing, while forming partnerships with brands like Fairmont Hotels and Lexus. She built strong relationships with top California winemakers and gained a loyal following of wine enthusiasts and celebrities.

After the sale of DEAN & DELUCA in 2015, Kerrin launched K. LAZ WINE COLLECTION, a chic tasting room in Yountville, CA. As a trusted wine expert in Napa Valley, Kerrin offers over 500 wine labels, including rare, sought-after bottles and hidden gems. Since its opening, K. LAZ WINE COLLECTION has become one of the valley’s top wine destinations.

In 2016, Kerrin introduced her own label, LAZ Wine, debuting with the highly praised 2014 vintage crafted by renowned winemaker Celia Welch. In 2019, she expanded her reach by partnering with Four Seasons 706 Mission in San Francisco to develop an exclusive wine program for residents, providing another platform for K. LAZ WINE COLLECTION.

Kerrin is also the founder of Inspire Napa Valley, a nonprofit dedicated to raising funds for Alzheimer’s and dementia research. Through this initiative, she has raised over $8.5 million in six years.

Kerrin and K. LAZ WINE COLLECTION have been featured in top publications including The Wall Street Journal, Departures, Forbes, Food & Wine, Travel & Leisure and San Francisco Chronicle. While grateful for the recognition, Kerrin values most the feedback and referrals from clients, guests, and colleagues who share her passion for wine.

CELIA WELCH, WINEMAKER

Celia Welch’s first interaction with grapes was under the huge oak tree in her backyard in Southern Oregon, where her siblings and she plucked grape berries from stems for their father, an avid wine collector and home winemaker. Her parents also included the family on trips through Napa and Sonoma in the early sixties, and, like most visitors, she was entranced with the beauty of the rolling vineyards.  Celia had reached a fork in her career path in the early nineties, and she chose to focus on independent wine consulting. The wines she has made create a microcosm of Napa Valley. She has made wine from vineyards on Mt. Veeder, Atlas Peak, and Howell Mountain to those in Carneros, and from benchland vineyards from St. Helena to Napa.