Master Sommelier and Restaurateur Marco Avigo
A career spent moving between countries, cultures, and cellars — always in pursuit of the same thing: hospitality done right.Marco Avigo has spent more than thirty years immersed in the world of wine and hospitality — working across nearly every aspect of the industry, from Italy to Asia and the United States, from Jakarta to Texas.
His passion for wine began early, leading him to become one of the youngest Master Sommeliers certified by the Italian Sommeliers Association in Milan in 1986. In the 1990s, Marco owned and operated Ristorante Gallo d’Oro on Lake Garda, recognized for five consecutive years as one of the best restaurants in Northern Italy. The restaurant became known for its warm hospitality and one of Italy’s finest wine cellars — more than 400 labels, alongside an exceptional selection of single-malt whiskies.
From there, his career expanded internationally: developing wine and food markets across Brunei, Singapore, Malaysia, and Hong Kong, before bringing his expertise to the United States as Vice President of Marketing for a wine import company, where he collaborated with producers, created private labels, and helped expand markets across multiple states.
Over the years, Marco has led food and beverage programs at respected properties including the Inn at Penn – Hilton Hotel and the Embassy Suites Hotel in Philadelphia. In 2010, he founded Alto Palato — a company dedicated to wine dinners, private events, cooking classes, and wine education — rooted in his belief that food and wine are best experienced as something shared. He later became certified as a Wine Location Specialist for Champagne, Douro, and Porto.
“In 2013, I created Marco Avigo Tours after decades of building relationships with winemakers, chefs, artisans, and local families. I wanted to invite others to experience Italy through my eyes — not as tourists, but as guests.”
These are not traditional tours, but small, personal journeys into authentic villages, hidden regions, family-run wineries, local kitchens, and traditions largely untouched by mass tourism. Traveling alongside Marco, guests experience not only exceptional food and wine, but the stories, culture, and human connections that make Italy truly unforgettable.