Affiliation : Director of Operations, Guild of Sommeliers - Wine Director, Farmhouse Inn and Restaurant
Location : Petaluma, CA, USA

Master Sommelier Geoff Kruth brings vitality, passion and extensive knowledge to his role as Wine Director of The Farmhouse Inn and Restaurant in the Russian River Valley. He has helped lead the Farmhouse to critical acclaim; with a Michelin star, a 27 score in Zagat, and the recent naming by Gourmet magazine as one of the world's top 36 food destinations. Having worked at some of America's finest dining establishments, Kruth is on a short list of the top young American wine professionals. In 2008 he became one of the few people in the world to have ever earned the designation of Master Sommelier.

In addition to his role at the Farmhouse, Mr. Kruth serves as Director of Operations for the Guild of Sommeliers, a nationwide non-profit membership organization and educational foundation.

 

The former Sonoma resident graduated from Sonoma State University with a BS in Computer Science before moving to Silicon Valley to pursue a career in the high-tech industry. A blossoming wine hobby became an obsession that lead to his enrollment in the French Culinary Institute's Classic Culinary Arts program in New York, where he honed his palate to taste professionally. While a student, Kruth started working part time at Balthazar as a Cellar Master, moving on to Assistant Wine Director upon his graduation in 2003.

Prior to returning to Sonoma County and joining the Farmhouse Inn and Restaurant, Kruth was Sommelier at Balthazar Restaurant and Assistant Wine Director for the Balthazar group in Manhattan where he helped oversee more than $10 million in yearly wine sales and was responsible for wine list development, floor service, and staff training.

In addition to his FCI diploma in Classic Culinary Arts, Kruth holds a certificate in Restaurant Management from the Cornell School of Hotel Management.

Over the years, Kruth has been a frequent guest lecturer and a consultant to restaurants and private events. 2010 marked Kruth's sixth year as the wine consultant for the Kapalua Wine and Food Festival in Hawaii, one the country's largest and most prestigious wine festivals.

In 2006 Mr. Kruth was awarded 'Rising Star of the Year' by the committee of the Star Wine International Wine Competition in New York and in 2009 he received the 'Rising Star' award from Star Chefs.