Piazza d'Italia
Piazza d'Italia, hosted by the National Italian American Foundation (NIAF), showcased the best of Italy in Washington D.C. in conjunction with NIAF's Gala and Annual Convention. The event celebrated some of the finest Italian goods, including food and wine, and vendors from across the nation congregated in the nation's capital for the two-day extravaganza. Montesquieu was featured as an exhibitor at the event, and we brought wines that best reflected the terroir of Italy to the event.
The non-profit NIAF is dedicated to preserving the heritage and culture of the fifth largest ethnic group in the United States. NIAF strives to preserve the background of persons of Italian descent by reintroducing Italian-Americans to their heritage and their ancestor's country, as well as promote the Italian culture in the United States. The NIAF Piazza d'Italia event was held at the Hilton Washington and Towers in 2006 and attracted more than 3,000 individuals from 42 states. Through the event, NIAF brought the best of Italy to our nation's capital for two days, highlighting Italian culture, food, wine, goods, and products. Montesquieu, along with other vendors and exhibitors, socialized with the event's attendees, buyers, and investors in person and gladly became a part of the Italian culture for two days.
The National Italian American Foundation was founded in Washington D.C. in 1975 and has since served as a liaison between the Italian-American community and congress. The foundation also promotes qualified Italian candidates for government and ensures realistic portrayals of Italians in the media. The foundation has also created several scholarships, as well as founded educational programs and activities for young Italian-Americans. NIAF also acts as a neutral liaison between the two governments by promoting cultural, economic, and political cooperation between the two countries. Additionally, NIAF promotes the history and accomplishments of Italian-Americans through events like the Piazza d'Italia, of which Montesquieu was a part.
The 2006 Piazza d'Italia gave Americans the opportunity to sample authentic wines and gourmet foods from Italy, including meats, cheeses, olives, pastries, sauces, coffees, ices, and gelatos from international and national distributors. Some booths promoted goods, such as clothes and tableware or books and magazines. Every industry, from restaurants to travel agencies were represented at the event, and political groups, humanitarian efforts, and Italian community leaders also contributed to the event, making every area of culture, business, and commerce accounted for in the event. Italian-American fashion designers, chefs, musicians, and winemakers treated the attendees of the event to special presentations, and both the former and current President George Bush made special appearances. Piazza D'Italia Guests also enjoyed food demonstrations and wine tasting exhibitions, to which Montesquieu offered a selection of their 62 fine Italian wines.
Montesquieu was thrilled to be participants in the NIAF event, which gave us the opportunity to introduce Italian wines to Italian-Americans and other ethnic groups that attended the Piazza d'Italia. Montesquieu was proud to be exhibitors at the event and to be numbered among the distributors and business leaders that participated in Piazza d'Italia. We met many interesting people that left long-lasting impressions. In the future, we hope to be a part of future NIAF events, as well as other, similar fundraising events.