The Healdsburg Museum started the Pioneer Award in 1998 to recognize and honor an individual with deep roots in the local area, strong community involvement and leadership in their profession.
2024 Pioneer Award Honoree:Anne Vercelli
Anne Vercelli, our 2024 Pioneer Awardee being honored at the History Lives Dinner, has been very instrumental in promoting the wine and food industry here in Sonoma County. She is an educator, wine competition coordinator, a highly regarded wine judge, a hospitality hostess, and a volunteer for various wine and food events here in Sonoma County for over 40 years.
Born and raised in Healdsburg, she attended St. John’s Grammar School. She is a graduate of Santa Rosa’s Ursuline High School and California State University, Sacramento with a major in Food and Nutrition. Anne graduated with honors from the Culinary Institute of America, in Hyde Park, New York. Granted a fellowship, she was employed for a year after graduation at the C.I.A., working in the French kitchen and catering office.
Her culinary journey included a stint as chef for Edgar Bronfman, President of the Seagram’s Distillery Company, in the executive dining room of the Seagram’s building on Park Avenue in New York City. Returning to California you could find her working at Ernie’s, one of San Francisco’s famous restaurants.
Her interest in wine and food was no doubt stimulated and encouraged by her family background. Her father, Joe Vercelli, a much esteemed wine man, was the first person to be awarded The Museum’s Pioneer Award in 1999.
Anne gained solid experience working as a restaurant manager at Charley Brown’s and the Clarion Hotel, both in Burlingame. “Working in a high-volume restaurant, is something you need to experience. You can’t learn it from a book,” she says.
She has been deeply involved in wine and food events and education for many years. You will find Anne behind the scenes at The Sonoma County Harvest Fair directing many of the food competitions there.
For over 25 years, she has served as Assistant Director of the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition. It is the largest competition of American wine in the world.
Currently she teaches a Wine Service and Hospitality course at Santa Rosa Junior College. She has been teaching Italian Cooking and Wine Studies there for some 44 years. The Italian Cooking Class covers everything from the top to the bottom of the boot!
Anne is the West Coast Representative for the Atlantic Seaboard Wine Association and travels to Virginia every August to serve as a wine judge in their competition.
When there is a wine and food event in Sonoma County, you can count that Anne will be part of it.
With her infectious smile and politeness, Anne is the friendly face that welcomes you to Costeaux Bakery every Saturday and Sunday for the last 26 years. If you are lucky, she will give you a treat from the bakery’s delicious delights!
“It is heartwarming for me to introduce my students to the world of wine and food. I enjoy the comradery of bringing people together through wine and food.”
