An age-old celebration of the pig; Maialata is a workday and feast steeped in ancient Italian traditions in accordance with folklore and biodynamic practices.

In the small mountain towns of Northern Italy, winter months afford the natural refrigeration necessary to process an entire animal into sausages, salumi, prosciutti and ragù that will feed a family for the year to come. This process of butchering, salting and preserving animals is no small task. So, rural communities would come together in a central town and work all day to prepare their pigs with each others’ help. Later that night, the group would celebrate the successful day with a feast of the bounty and pay respect to the animals that provide their nourishment.

Cathy Whims and Rudy Marchesi, along with a little help from Dario Cecchini, have recreated this experience at the Oregon Maialata recurring for nearly a decade. The event welcomes over 100 attendees - including chefs, butchers, historians, friends and enthusiasts - to gather in the chilly winery and farm lands of Montinore Estate to learn butchery and cookery from each other.

In the morning, Dario Cecchini leads a porchetta butchery demonstration with the drama and individuality that only a world-famous personality like his can offer. Then, we all join together for an extraordinary lunch by The Nightwood Society made of unlimited meats, cheeses, vegetables, dips, spreads, pickles and the world-famous Nostrana salad.

Montinore Estate wine and Caffé Umbria coffee flow freely all day, as we make our way to hands-on workshops, and eventually into the cellar to dine in convivial fashion on the meats and sauces made during the day.

We hope you will join us for this long day of learning and bonding

At the end of the day, sit together for unforgettable multi-course subterranean dinner in the wine cellar with masterfully prepared food from the day's production, presented by Cathy Whims’ team of chefs including Paolo Calamai of Burrasca, Rick Gencarelli of Grassa/Lardo, Rob Roy of Nostrana, Eric Bartle of Abbey Road Farm, and Sarah Schneider of The Nightwood Society. Dinner will be paired with yet more Montinore Estate wine.

Location: Montinore Estate Vineyards, Forest Grove, Oregon
Attendance: 150
Type: offsite, hands-on experiential farm day
Scope of work: event coordination, day-of management, and communication liaison for Nostrana, Montinore, PR, chef's, and staff