Events & News
MARCH 2023
Casa Luigi Celebrates Its Founder Claudia Farrokhnia on International Women’s Day
Casa Luigi is proud to be a women-owned business and the team took the time to celebrate its founder and president, Claudia Farrokhnia, on International Women’s Day. The team made a special call out on our social channels and we all, of course, raised a glass of sparkling Casa Luigi in her honor!
FEBRUARY 2023
Casa Luigi founders Wolfgang and Claudia Hosted Workshops with On-premise Teams in Las Vegas
The top 40 hotels in Las Vegas carry Casa Luigi by their pools, in bars, restaurants and clubs (including all MGM properties, all Caesars Entertainment properties, Wynn, Encore, Cosmopolitan, TAO Group, and more). The Casa Luigi founders Wolfgang and Claudia spent two productive days meeting with several teams of on-premise staff at our valued hospitality partners in Las Vegas in late February The teams (in groups of 20 - 40 attendees at a time) were thrilled to meet our founders, and said how much it reflects on the brand that the founders made the trip to see them, sample the product, and talk about brand and its provenance. It's this kind of dedication to spreading the Casa Luigi word that ensures guests have the perfect Casa Luigi experience as an excellent complement to their resort adventures.
JANUARY 2023
Highly Experienced Sales Director Matt Carfagnini (ex Stoli Group, Patron, and Southern Wine & Spirits) Joins Casa Luigi
With over 15 years experience in spirits sales, Casa Luigi is thrilled to welcome Matt Carfagnini to Casa Luigi. His experience spans both being brand-side and distributor-side offering him a unique perspective on what it takes to be successful in the wine and spirits marketplace. Matt and Kevin Swadish have collaborated in past lives and are already a well-oiled machine as our sales team expands.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewcarfagnini/
DECEMBER 2022
Industry legend Kevin Swadish joined Casa Luigi first as Chief Revenue Officer and has now broadened his responsibilities as Chief Operating Officer
Kevin Swadish has broad experience in sales, senior management, operations, marketing, and brand building in the wine and spirits world. He was the South West Division Manager for Ernest & Julio Gallo (the largest winery in the world) where he managed all company-owned distributors in the South West Region. He was SVP of Sales and Marketing for Young's Market (now RNDC) where he managed Southern California, with sales responsibility of $300 million. While he has extensive experience with the large players, his passion is for growing emerging brands where he has a strong track record of success including Skyy Vodka (where he became COO), Samuel Smith Beers, Sole Water, Sabemos Beverages, 1921 Tequila, and Duval Leroy Champagne. He has deep relationships with key US retailers including major chains including Kroger, Albertsons, Target, Cost Plus, HEB, Safeway/Vons, Whole Foods, and BevMo.
CASA LUIGI TAKES HOME MULTIPLE AWARDS AT PR%F 2022
We have achieved a spectacular accolade from the PR%F Awards 2022!
Judges full of talented beverage buyers with UNLV industry leaders collaborated on what became the largest spirit tasting competition-ever. The judges were tough on the scores this year, but they believed Casa Luigi was a winner.
CASA WINS BIG AT ECRM
Casa Luigi took part in ECRM, the Nation’s largest beverage convention, August 21-24 in San Diego. Our executive team met with around 50 corporate buyers from both, “off premise” (grocery stores, supermarkets) and “on premise” (bars, restaurants, hotels, golf clubs, hospitality) in the US and around the world. During face-to-face meetings in our beautifully decorated Casa Luigi Suite, we did live tastings with the buyers, told them our story, marketing activities and closed deals. This means that we are expanding our distribution from currently 250 accounts to 3,500 new accounts within the next 6 months across the nation, growing to 8,000 – 10,000 accounts by the end of 2023.
SUNSET INTERNATIONAL AWARDS
To have a wine receive a medal here is no small achievement. This competition is one of the most respected, recognized for consistently identifying the best wines produced internationally. This contest again drew top-level wines, To receive a medal in a competition of this caliber truly showcases the level of wines we produce.
This year’s competition saw a field of more than 2,900 entries. Only wines rating 90+ points were awarded Gold medals, making them eligible to us on to the “Best Of” Category.
LA WINE FEST 2022
Casa Luigi was apart of LA's “Signature Celebration of all Things Wine” aka the LA Wine Fest in the first week of June. We were thrilled with the overwhelming response to our attendance and can't wait to return back to Long Beach for another great year.
CASA LUIGI HITS VEGAS
Casa Luigi has just been approved by MGM Resorts to be sold at all their properties. This means that you can find Casa Luigi now available in the top 40 hotels in Las Vegas, including the Wynn, Encore, Cosmopolitan, Waldorf Astoria, Westgate, Stratosphere, MGM’s The Mirage, Mandalay Bay, Aria, Vdara, Park MGM, MGM Grand, Bellagio, Mirage, Luxor, Excalibur, Delano, New York Ne
SOMMELIER CHALLENGE AWARDS
The 2021 Sommelier Challenge International Wine & Spirits Competition received over 1000 wine entries that were evaluated by the judges in a blind tasting in San Diego, CA.
2021 INTERNATIONAL CANNED WINE AWARDS
Casa Luigi’s HUGO is the gold medal winner of the 2021 International Canned Wine competition. Our HUGO is a super-premium cocktail with delicious Italian Sparkling wine, based with the best sparkling water from the Italian-Austrian glaciers, elderflower, lemon and a hint of mint! This famously light spritzer is crafted by Casa Luigi’s world leading team of aroma experts. Juicy, fruity, fresh & fun! 100% natural. 
GOING BEYOND
Casa Luigi was on-site at the new headquarters for Beyond Meat to celebrate their opening in El Segundo. Guests nibbled on pure plant protein burgers, chicken appetizers and meatballs. Wine samplings were hosted by Casa Luigi including a fun, 5 flavors tastings by founder Claudia Farrokhnia and guests enjoyed ice cold and refreshing Prosecco Cocktails at multiple standing room only bars. DJ Alf Alpha played from a vintage Volkswagen and Beyond Meat President Ethan Brown presented his Vegan Vision for the future.
CASA LUIGI AT COACHELLA
NATIONAL SUNRISE SERIES
