Chaos Reigns at Italian Wine Tasting Event in LA

Attendees more interested in socializing than sampling the wines

Published on Feb. 15, 2026

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A wine trade tasting event in Los Angeles hosted by Kobrand Wine and Spirits to showcase their Italian wine portfolio was a disappointment for the author, who found the event more focused on socializing, eating, and drinking rather than the actual tasting and evaluation of the wines. The author noted that the limited space at the tasting tables was taken up by wine buyers, sommeliers, and others more interested in networking than seriously tasting the wines.

Why it matters

The article highlights the challenges wine industry professionals face in hosting effective trade tastings in a city like Los Angeles, where the wine scene is known more for its high-end dining and celebrity culture than a serious appreciation for wine. This raises questions about how to create more focused, productive environments for wine professionals to discover and evaluate new offerings.

The details

The author attended the nine-city US tour stop for Kobrand Wine and Spirits in Los Angeles, which showcased the importer's high-quality Italian wine portfolio. However, the author found the event felt more like a "college kegger with suits" than a serious tasting, with attendees more concerned with socializing, eating, and drinking rather than actually tasting and evaluating the wines. The author noted tables were "clogged" with people holding court for their entourages or having personal conversations, making it difficult to access the tasting stations.

  • The event took place last week in Los Angeles.
  • It was the final stop on Kobrand Wine and Spirits' nine-city US tour.

The players

Kobrand Wine and Spirits

An importer of high-quality Italian wines that hosted the tasting event in Los Angeles.

Roberto Pighin

The owner of a family winery in Friuli with a major estate and a smaller one in the Collio DOC zone, whose wines were featured at the event.

Emilia Nardi

The owner of Tenute Silvio Nardi, who was on hand to pour the Sangiovese wines from her estate vineyards in Montalcino.

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What they’re saying

“I quickly became disenchanted with trying to muscle in for a taste and bailed on the event.”

— Randy Fuller, Author (nowandzin.com)

The takeaway

The article highlights the challenges wine industry professionals face in hosting effective trade tastings in cities like Los Angeles, where the wine scene is more focused on high-end dining and celebrity culture than serious appreciation for wine. This raises questions about how to create more focused, productive environments for wine professionals to discover and evaluate new offerings.