The Best Food And Wine In The World, Transported To Paradise For One Weekend Only
What’s the only thing better than wine therapy in Beverly Hills? Taking the cure to Hawaii
As early as 1998, The New York Times hailed Christian Navarro as “wine therapist to the stars.” In the two decades since, his flagship restaurant Wally’s Wine & Spirits has leapfrogged from locations in Beverly Hills and Santa Monica to a new Vegas edition. Expansion toward the Pacific islands began back in 2019, when Navarro partnered with the Four Seasons Resort Maui to debut the Maui Wine & Food Classic festival. World-class chefs and vintners traveled to Wailea for one weekend, which earned rave reviews from Robb Report, but was put on hiatus during the pandemic.
This Labor Day weekend the event is roaring back, with chefs like Wolfgang Puck and Rashida Holmes of Bridgetown Roti, and wine partners like Opus One and Patrimony. Before getting into the food and drink, Navarro has one thing on his mind—location, location, location. “First of all, I love the Maui Four Seasons—as do most people on planet earth,” he said. “It’s truly one of the greatest places you could ever go on vacation. I’m going to paradise to eat and drink with the greatest chefs and greatest wineries in the world, that’s why I’m excited.”
As one of LA’s finest curators of food and drink, no one understands better than Navarro that traveling to remote locations can mean some sacrifices for a discerning palate. “What I took away from the first year was that I can be in paradise, and I can have this gastronomic experience at the highest level,” he said. “We’re all used to going away on holiday to Mexico or Hawaii, and we sort of put up with the food. Now, people in the industry are starting to see that Hawaii is a viable option for what we do and what we love. Now, I can go to Hawaii and have both.”
Standout events include the Icon Dinner pairing featuring Patina group founder Joachim Splichal and Shafer Vineyards, Wally’s Starlight Lounge offering cocktails and small bites at sunset, and Brunch and Bubbles at the Spago outpost on property. Tickets for the September 2-4, 2022 weekend begin at $225 and are available here.
