Cheese has a funny way of taking you places. Paris. London. Dubai. Beijing.
Corporate boardrooms. Busy kitchens. Family homes. It all started right here in Sonoma.
The Epicurean Connection was founded in Sonoma by award-winning cheesemaker Sheana Davis. What began as a retail cheese shop evolved into a focused culinary business centered on cheese education, private and corporate events, artisan production, and selective catering.
For more than three decades, the company has gathered visitors from Sonoma, Napa Valley, and beyond around hands-on food experiences. The work is rooted in regional sourcing, zero-waste practices, and long-standing relationships with local producers. The team donates weekly to Farm to Pantry and continues its No Pay Cafe initiative, supporting food access in Sonoma Valley.
Food connects people. It should do more than just taste good.
Sheana Davis is an award-winning cheesemaker, chef, cookbook author, consultant, and culinary educator.
She built a career spanning production, teaching, judging, and consulting. Her goat cheese, Délice de la Vallée, earned first place at the American Cheese Society and helped establish her national reputation.
Sheana is a member of the Guilde Internationale des Fromagers and has served as an ambassador and judge at international competitions, including the International Cheese & Dairy Awards in London. She has received recognition from Slow Food for her contributions to the artisan and farmstead cheese movement in the USA, particularly in Sonoma and Marin Counties.
Sheana is the author of Buttermonger, co-written with her daughter Karina, which features more than 40 compound butter recipes shaped by years of teaching and cooking.
Ben Sessions is a Sonoma native and wine educator shaped by Wine Country.
He leads hands-on cheese-making classes and co-hosts private and corporate events at The Epicurean Connection. His background in hospitality and wine education brings structure and warmth to every class. Guests often ask about his signature Brie Brûlée (video coming soon!), a torch-finished spin on a classic.
Ben connects cheese education to Sonoma and Napa Valley wine culture, leading guided wine and cheese pairings that highlight the region’s character.
Karina Davis is a professional cheesemaker and educator who grew up immersed in the craft. She worked as a cheesemonger at The Pasta Shop in Oakland and later with the California Milk Advisory Board, assisting with culinary coursework and teaching American cheesemaking. Her work has included participation in discussions with the US Dairy Export Council on agribusiness and global trade.
Today, she works part-time at The Epicurean Connection while serving as a Behavioral Science Research Assistant at the University of California, Berkeley, where she is also pursuing her MSW (Class of 2026). She is a 2025–26 CSWE Minority Fellowship Program Fellow, with a focus on advancing equitable, community-driven mental health and social services, particularly for communities most impacted by systemic inequities.
We are passionate about supporting and strengthening our local community in a diverse, fair, and sustainable way. Drawing inspiration from the concept of a recipe, where instructions are followed from start to finish, we carefully source local ingredients, create menus filled with flavor & integrity, and serve our guests with pride. We also strive to provide fair wages for our staff and promote sustainable practices throughout all aspects of our business.
To create a sense of community within our community. We strive to make a positive impact for our families, employees, guests, producers, neighbors, and the environment, locally and globally.
The Epicurean Connection is proud to be a member of these incredible organizations.
Congressman Mike Thompson
Governor Gavin Newsom
Supervisor Rebecca Hermasillo
Green Business by City of Sonoma
Community Service by Sonoma Valley Chamber of Commerce