When Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea set about elevating their guests’ wine experience last year, they looked to Christian Navarro, president/principal of Wally’s Wine & Spirits in Los Angeles, one of the most name-recognized, trustworthy sommeliers in the business. He brought to the world-class property a personalized wine program that has taken off among guests who book the hotel’s “elite suites.” Little did anyone know, the program would be so successful that, inside of a year, the team would be planning the grandest, most intimate wine event in the island’s history. The first annual Maui Wine & Food Classic is slated for March 1-3, 2019 (tickets available here).
I spoke with Navarro about his curation of the Maui Wine & Food Classic, and he talked about what differentiates it from the many wine and food events we see each year.
KW: Can you backtrack a bit and explain how your original partnership with Four Seasons Wailea came to be?
CN: I’m a longtime friend of (Four Seasons Wailea marketing director) Mark Simon, and we got together around ideas to expand what Four Seasons Wailea was doing in the wine space. We brainstormed about how the property could set itself apart in the highly competitive sphere of wine. All over the world, food and wine is becoming more important as people travel everywhere. They see a lot, and their standards have shifted. People want more personalized, intimate experiences. What we did for the “elite suite” guests is offer an exclusive in-suite menu, overseen by a sommelier, from decanting to hand-delivering surprise pairings. This level of wine service is unprecedented on Maui, and is rare at any hotel.
KW: Did this inaugural Wine & Food Classic evolve organically out of the partnership?
CN: Yes, over lunch and rosé! I had my flip-flops on, feet in the sand, and it was kind of like, “What do we do next”? For me, it’s all about that human connection. This event (limited to 200 attendees), unlike many large-scale wine gatherings, will put the human element back into play. You’re going to learn about (winemaker) Ann Colgin’s dog — because you’ll be hanging out with her at the tastings, the gala, the pool, etc. You’ll be able to talk to all the sommeliers, winemakers and chefs because we’ll all be hanging out together over the course of three days. We’ve created an event that compels people to be at this already fantastic property, gives them another reason to come.
KW: How did you choose your partners, the chefs and winemakers you most wanted to work with?
CN: I wanted to work with my friends. We had a timeframe in which we wanted to pull this off, and I went straight to my best friends in the industry, those whose work I respect, and they all said “yes” right away. I knew if my friends were around me, we could create an environment of love and trust.
KW: The event seems pitched pretty high, with “master classes,” as opposed to tastings or seminars. Who are these classes primarily geared to? Collectors? People who already have some sensory expertise? Ambitious newbies?
CN: Anyone who is taking the time and spending the money to attend already probably has a great appreciation of the wines. And if you don’t, you will by the time you leave!
KW: Why the decision to offer breakout dinners?
CN: I didn’t want a big dinner for 200. I wanted, instead, the feeling of a dinner party at your house.
KW: What are the challenges in pulling this off?
CN: Maui is a small island in the middle of the ocean, so it’s hard to get everything there. But the desire is strong, and there are so many wonderful indigenous ingredients we’ll be able to source for the food pairings, which will make it all the more special.
KW: What makes this event different from other food and wine events (either at hotel properties anywhere or in the Hawaiian Islands, specifically)?
CN: We’re offering an intimate environment, away from the digital realm. The world is changing. Wine service is no longer about the guy in the tuxedo with a little cup around his neck. We’re all busy, stressed out, have too much info — we need to relax, and we’re creating an environment in which this can happen. Four Seasons Wailea is an ideal place for this event because of the incredible level of training each staff member is given in service. There’s nothing like it anywhere.
