Festa del Barolo 2023 Recap
BY ANTONIO GALLONI |
Festa del Barolo is right around the corner. As we make the final preparations, so many memories of the 2023 edition come rushing back. In 2023, we presented an expanded program of tastings, seminars and dinners. This is a look at some of the many highlights.
The inaugural Festa del Barolo-Los Angeles was a huge success. The walk-around tasting featured ten growers, each of whom presented several wines.
Festa del Barolo 2023 kicked off with our first events in Los Angeles. We were fortunate to have a perfect day. To be sure, Los Angeles makes for a great escape from New York winters. A mild, sunny day with plenty of California sunshine helped the wines show at their best. We did two events: a walk-around tasting featuring ten growers and their 2018 Barolos, followed by our traditional big bottle Gala Dinner, both held at Ristorante Marino in Santa Monica. We had never done a walk-around tasting before. I found the more informal vibe vis-à-vis the seated masterclass format we use in New York to be very relaxed and perfectly suited to the crowd. Dinner was a great hit of iconic wines served by producers and guests who dug deep into their cellars to open their very best. Brothers Sal and Mario Marino cooked a fabulous dinner.
The Los Angeles Piedmont contingent showed up strong for our Gala Dinner. These are some of the wines we enjoyed.
Overall, it was the generosity and camaraderie of the day
that I will remember most.
