A night thru Italy with Luciano

Come learn about some of the greatest wine regions of Italy and tasting some of the amazing wines from each one of them.
Special Guest Hosts
Luciano Castiello from Cru Artisan
And
Ciro Pirone Director Italian Wines
Horizon Beverage Group

Ciro Bio:
Ciro Pirone, Director of Italian Wines for Horizon Beverage Company, is a graduate of the Istituto Alberghiero (Hotel and Restaurant Management school) of Salerno, Italy. Traveling and working in Italy, England and the US, Ciro developed an incredible passion for wine, food and culture. After all, growing up in Italy, wine was always a very important part of his family’s lifestyle and traditions.
In 1999, Ciro moved to the US permanently. He landed in Boston, where he continued his wine studies at Boston University, the International Sommelier Guild, the London –based Wine & Spirits Educational Trust (WSET), as well as he completed and passed with Honors the Italian Wine Specialist Certification by the North American Sommelier Association (part of the worldwide recognized Italian Sommelier Association).
In 2007, Ciro accepted the position of Italian Wine Specialist for Horizon Beverage. After successful growth at HBC, Ciro accepted on a new challenge as the US Brand Manager for the Arnaldo Caprai Winery of Montefalco (Umbria), the top producer of worldwide recognized Sagrantino di Montefalco. In June 2011, Ciro returned to Horizon Beverage with a new position of Director of Italian Wines in support of their expanding presence in the New England marketplace. Ciro is happy to share his passion for Italian wine and culture in an effort to give the American wine consumer a better understanding and appreciation for Italian wine!

Luciano Bio:

Luciano Castiello is the national ambassador for Cru Artisan Wines, and unofficial ambassador for Italy’s melody-filled, wine-charmed, “slow food” culture.
An industry veteran of over 30 years, Mr. Castiello is a sales leader for Cru Artisan, agent to luxury selections of the Banfi portfolio, focusing his efforts on sommeliers and buyers of luxury wines in the leading metropolitan areas of the United States. As ambassador, Mr. Castiello is a passionate and inspiring spokesperson for these family wineries. The multi-lingual Mr. Castiello (he has fluent command of English, Italian, French, Spanish, German, Portuguese, Dutch, Punjabi, and Creole) concentrates on building brands through personal contact with sommeliers and wine professionals, acting as a liaison between grower and consumer.
The consummate professional, Mr. Castiello possesses the unique ability to reach wine enthusiasts of all levels. His passion for international cuisine combined with his vastly extensive wine knowledge allows him to make wine approachable to any consumer.
Mr. Castiello attributes his passion for food and wine to his experiences growing up on the Italian Riviera, the son of a winemaker and a chef. Born on a small farm in Liguria, just nine hundred feet from the sea, Mr. Castiello worked in the fields harvesting olives for oil and grapes for wine with his father, and cooking in his family’s restaurant-like kitchen with his mother and grandmother. These small family businesses inspired him to continue working with family wineries where the soul of the brand is always present.
Schooled in Italy and France, Mr. Castiello has worked in the UK and on the Caribbean Island of St. Maarten and has represented prestige champagne houses, as well as artisan Burgundy producers. His breadth of international wine experience allows Mr. Castiello to bring a unique perspective to his role, and his passion brings this experience to life. He is a graduate of the Armenise Business School, London, England, and L ‘Istituto Italiano Alberghiero Hotel School, Alassio, Italy. Mr. Castiello is also a member of the Society of Wine Educators.