Author Event: Wineland with Photographer Emma Kruch

Join us for a special event with Emma Kruch, photographer of Wineland. This event is free, but we appreciate your RSVP below so we can plan for your attendance.

We are pleased to celebrate the release of Wineland: Celebrating the Heart of Sonoma, by James Beard Award-winning Chef Charlie Palmer and writer Matt Villano, which Emma Kruch photographed over two years.

Published internationally by Artisan Books, Wineland features the rich, evocative visual storytelling for which Emma is best known. The book explores Sonoma County’s raw and authentic beauty, and features the stories of its most iconic artisans, makers, vintners, chefs and farmers whose work is deeply connected to the land and community they call home.

"I had the distinct pleasure of photographing this expansive book over the past few years for the great Chef Charlie Palmer. From documenting historic coastal vineyards on a 4 wheeler with Peay Vineyards winemaker Vanessa Wong to pulling oysters out of Tomales Bay with Hog Island Oysters owners John Finger and Terry Sawyer to learning how to make Diaz family-recipes in the Casa del Molé kitchen, I loved every second of this wild ride. Exploring Sonoma County’s raw and authentic beauty, Wineland is filled cover-to-cover with vibrant images and stories (big props to co-writer and Sonoma County OG Matt Villano) of 20 of its most iconic artisans, makers, vintners, chefs + farmers. And yes, there are recipes inside, too! It takes a village, and holding this book in my hands feels unreal. I am so proud to have been a part of this fulfilling project and grateful to finally be able share it with you." — Emma Kruch

Celebrate the raw, authentic beauty of the California wine country living through transportive photography and the inspiring stories of Sonoma County’s special community of vintners, chefs, farmers, and more.
Author and legendary chef Charlie Palmer uprooted his NYC life for Sonoma County more than twenty years ago. Since then, through his award-winning Healdsburg restaurant, Dry Creek Kitchen, Palmer has forged a community of inspiring and influential artisans whose stories are now brought to life across the pages of Wineland. With abundant photography and a curated selection of recipes, the book’s twenty profiles capture the value of following nature, living with intention, and dedicating oneself to their craft.
Through Wineland, you’ll travel to the winding Russian River, where a biodynamic farm becomes one couple’s oasis for community. Explore a historic mission-style estate where a new generation communes around the table inspired by Sonoma’s unique terroir. Visit the Dry Creek Valley, where a fourth-generation winemaker tends to his family’s historic 150-year-old vineyard. Plus, meet Kyle and Katina Connaughton, the couple behind the world-renounced restaurant SingleThread, who demonstrate just how delicious it is to discover a nearly spiritual connection to the seasons; local baker Melissa Yanc, who exemplifies how passion can breed community; or Amelia Ceja, whose story of leading her family from vineyard laborers to owners of one of the most established wineries in the Carneros region reminds us that nothing is fixed

ABOUT THE PHOTOGRAPHER

Emma Kruch (or Emma K for short) is best known for her vibrant, recognizable aesthetic and dynamic visual storytelling, her clients range from highly-acclaimed restaurants, resorts and wineries to celebrated artists and small businesses. She brings a rare blend of creativity, enthusiasm, and cultural perspective to her work, which plays a vital role in shaping and elevating a brand’s narrative.

Breaking into radio promotion as an on-air disc jockey at the age of 16 led to many opportunities in the music industry including a marketing position with Sony Music in New York City throughout college. After graduating from Michigan State University, Emma developed a passion for the nonprofit arts sector and transitioned away from the music industry in order to direct and curate an alternative art space in the Midwest. There, she focused on engaging the community with a dynamic variety of cultural programming and thematic exhibitions.

Next, she relocated to Orlando, FL to oversee the communications department for the nation’s sixth largest Local Arts Agency. During her time at United Arts, she handled all aspects of marketing, PR, and new media. Emma focused on cultivating meaningful collaborations between arts organizations, local businesses, and individual artists, while simultaneously earning her certificate in leadership training from Rollins College. During this time she was immersed and actively involved in local public art, city government, arts education & advocacy, and economic impact studies.

In 2013 she moved to Northern California to explore the next chapter in her life as a budding creative. She is a frequent contributing photographer for The New York Times, and her work has been featured in dozens of publications including Art Culinaire, Architectural Digest, and Food & Wine. Her photographs can be seen in internationally-released books Assouline’s Wine & Travel: USA, San Francisco Cocktails, Serving New York, I Love California by Nathan Turner, Husbands That Cook, Gestalt’s You’re Invited, The Curated Table, and most recently WINELAND: Celebrating The Heart of Sonoma, to be released summer of 2026 on Artisan Publishing.

In her free moments, Emma can be found recipe developing in her kitchen, tending her garden, or in her backyard hammock with a good book in one hand and a glass of Champagne in the other.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Charlie Palmer is a celebrated chef, hospitality entrepreneur, and hotelier known for his signature Progressive American cuisine, blending bold flavors with classical French technique. Based between New York and Healdsburg, California, he is the founder of the Charlie Palmer Collective and cofounder of Appellation Hotels, with restaurants including Dry Creek Kitchen, Charlie Palmer Steak, and others across the country. A dedicated philanthropist, he founded the Palmer Family Education Foundation and hosts the annual Pigs & Pinot event supporting culinary scholarships and community programs in Sonoma. Charlie balances his storied career with his roles as a husband, father, and grandfather, drawing inspiration from the Sonoma community he calls home.