Culinary
Artisans Wine & Food 2026 at The Boca Raton celebrated Napa Valley wines and Michelin-starred cuisine. Guests enjoyed tastings, a supper-club gala by Chef Mario Carbone, and moments of giving across an elegant four-day fête.
Updated 02:49 pm EDT, March 26, 2026
Published 02:27 pm EST, January 20, 2026
Artisans Wine & Food 2026 at The Boca Raton celebrated Napa Valley wines and Michelin-starred cuisine. Guests enjoyed tastings, a supper-club gala by Chef Mario Carbone, and moments of giving across an elegant four-day fête.
Updated 02:49 pm EDT, March 26, 2026
Published 02:27 pm EST, January 20, 2026
What an exquisite fête commemorating culinarian and vintner masters of the world. The second edition of Artisans of Wine & Food was held January 15-18, 2026, in Boca Raton, Florida and far exceeded all expectations. Including more than 100 Napa Valley wineries, one of the largest numbers to ever come together on the East Coast, and more than 20 legendary chefs from Michelin-starred and award-winning restaurants over the course of more than 20 events, it was truly an unforgettable and extraordinary occasion.
From the moment of stepping into the iconic The Boca Raton with its Spanish colonial style architecture, you were whisked away and enveloped in enchantment and delight. This year marks the 100th anniversary of The Boca Raton, so it was the perfect start to the celebrations. Guests had an array of events to attend, from dinners en plein air, meeting premier female vintners on the yacht, an Omakase experience, culinary demos, or participating in the invitational golf tournament, there was a flavor for every tastebud. I had the privilege of attending events on Saturday, January 17, where upon first arrival, I was greeted by the delightful faces of the wonderful team as they graciously guided me to where the first event took place.
As I ventured down the corridor and walked through the recently transformed Palm Court with the green underlit bar, floor to ceiling windows with beautiful coastal views, dome table lamps, and grand piano, it was only the first taste of luxury and exclusive hospitality that I would be lavished with. Moving through this beautiful social center of the resort, it was only a short stroll along the marina lined with beautiful yachts docked and glistening in the sunlight to my first stop of the day.
The Discover Napa Valley Tasting Pavilion presented by Morgan Stanley was a three-location event, starting on the Principessa Ristorante lawn. Wrapped in a u-shape lined on the left and right sides of the walkways was the first assortment of a little more than 20 wineries including Alpha Omega, Baldacci Family Vineyards, Chappellet Vineyard, Claudio Family Cellars, Clos Du Val, Darioush, and many more. In the center was Flora Fine Foods with a lovely display of their various products and the outdoor wood fire oven where they served pizza, of which I welcomed in a slice topped with artichokes and olives that was fragrant and very satisfying.
Sauntering through the resort grounds, taking in the luxurious sights everywhere I turned, and being greeted by a selection of Ferraris, I soon arrived at the next two pavilions at the Alhambra Lawn and Grand Lawn where the remaining 80+ wineries were set up for tastings. Among the wineries included were Diamond Mountain Vineyard, Far Niente Winery & Bella Union, Girard Winery & Clos Pegase, Hess Persson Estates, Nickel & Nickel, Raymond Vineyards, Rudd Estate, Rutherford Ranch Winery, Shafer Vineyards, Spottswoode Estate Vineyard & Winery, St. Supéry Estate Vineyards & Winery, Staglin Family Vineyard, TOR, Vineyard 29 and so many more.
Nestled in amongst the vintners were tasty bites from the culinarians. Some of these offerings were Mia Rosebud’s polenta dish; Coolinary’s Argentinian shrimp and habanero; the fried green tomatoes with stracciatella cheese, fig and spicy honey from Acqua Café; the live bee hive of Frankie & the Bees where I enjoyed pizza with pomodoro, spicy sausage and fresh spicy honey; the Coffee Art from Tartelette French Patisserie & Café that was a coffee mousse with caramel and dark chocolate in the shape of a coffee bean; and the mini gelato cones with the choose-your-own-topping cart from Maison Rose of The Boca Raton.
Sprinkled throughout were displays of chilled Saratoga Spring Water in sparkling and still to refresh and replenish yourself for more delicious tastes and sips. From the vine covered wire chandeliers, the beautiful orchid, moss and driftwood arrangements placed in wine barrel vases, and tasting bars atop wine racks, everything was a perfect pairing.
Later that evening was my next event – A Vintners Gala: CARBONE at Artisans of Wine & Food, the culmination and climatic segment of the Artisan affair. Headlined by celebrity chef Mario Carbone, it was a night of extravagance and opulence that was reminiscent of supper clubs of bygone days, and vintage glamour. It began with a short, tented reception on the Grand Lawn. Moving into the Grand Ballroom, I was greeted by dancing red roses and the expressive sounds of the saxophone and clarinet.
Walking under the red rose arbor, I entered the Grand Ballroom and was instantly bathed in red velvet and crystal chandeliers. Towering candelabras, gold mercury glass votives and candles of various heights, and magnificent, bursting red rose arrangements dazzled in splendor in the center of the gold and black tables. I sat down in my art deco backed gold and black velvet chair and placed my gold velvet napkin on my lap, while the live band played on. The tables were set for our family style Italian-American masterpiece of five courses that took us on the journey of the Carbone vision, perspective and experience.
Upon the table sat a basket of fresh focaccia and breads, rose curled salami, bite size pieces of parmesan, and marinated cauliflower with a hint of spice lightly sprinkled on top that was such a delightfully delicious prequel to the meal. In a spirit of community and family, we passed around the mouth-watering dishes. To start, we had a selection of antipasti including Tuna Calabrese, Carpaccio Piemontese, and Caesar Alla ZZ. For his macaroni selections, he served a Spicy Rigatoni Vodka that had a little kick but was superb, and Mario’s Meatballs that were soft and moist and simply melted in your mouth. For his carni e pesci course, he served Shrimp Fra Diavolo, Veal Parmesan and Dry Aged 50 oz Tomahawk. Alongside this, there were the contorni of Artichoke Hearts and Potatoes Louie.
For dolci were his sloped Carrot Cake in the shape of a “C” that was a beautiful spectacle and tasted just as splendid as it looked; his Lemon Cheesecake that was simply divine with the perfect balance of lemon, and his Rainbow Cookies and selection of fruit and nuts were lovely. It truly was a wonderful journey for your palette. With every bite, you could taste his passion, his years of mastery, his years of perfecting each dish, and I cannot wait until I get another bite.
The pours created a fantastic union to his table. Some of the wines glistening the tables included Torcia, MTGA Wines, Pulido-Walker, Arborum, Blackbird Vineyards, and my personal favorite of the night, a Claudio Family Cellars Merlot that was as smooth as silk. It was a beautiful bouquet of tastes – a feast for the eyes, and a feast for the senses.
Nearing the end of this lavish, outstanding and sensational meal, the auctioneer continued the entertainment as she paraded around the room. There were nine bespoke auctions available for the lucky bidders. Some of these were an NBA all-star experience, New York Fashion Week at Carolina Herrera’s show, a South African safari experience, a PGA National experience, a Seven Seas Cruise experience, and a heart auction that was purely generous gifts to the charity organizations Place of Hope and the Napa Valley Vintners Youth Wellness Initiative. Hearing the incredible testimony of one brave woman who was restored through the work and love of Place of Hope absolutely pulled at your heart strings. Place of Hope focuses on ending cycles of abuse, neglect, homelessness, human trafficking and more, and provides a stable and loving environment for children, youth, and families in crisis.
Following this incredible, culinarian and vintner festa was the after-party under the tents. A special wine tasting with Darioush welcomed you, and you were instantly energized with the music of the multi-piece live band, inviting you to dance the night away. You could follow the gold wire centerpieces covered in blooming red roses to find a selection of wine to sip on and an array of tantalizing desserts waiting to be explored. And the perfect finish to a perfect night was the mesmerizing firework display.
What’s next for the Artisans Wine & Food? It’s coming back to The Boca Raton for their third edition on January 14-17, 2027. Save the date, purchase your tickets and be part of this phenomenal and exquisite event that is the absolute must attend event of the year.
With a fashion buyer grandmother and Mack Sennett Studios producer as a great grandfather, Dana’s love for Old Hollywood and fashion ignited. Sparking wonder, accentuating one’s being, helping them reach their potential, and knowing how valuable they are is always central to everything she does.
Get the latest fashion, culture, and art updates, including magazine releases release parties
Sponsored Content
