Italy at the Newport Mansions Wine and Food Festival

More than 3500 foodies attended the Newport Mansions Wine and Food Festival where Italy was, for the third time in a row, the main international partner. The collaboration between the Italian Trade Commission of New York and the Preservation Society of Newport County has resulted in the successful organization of a series of promotional events that featured top quality wines and authentic Italian food products.

The historic Rosecliff Mansion and Marble House were the majestic locations that framed each happening. Among the several activities presented by the Italian Trade Commission, the seminar “Perusing the Peninsula- An Exploration of the Wines of Italy,” was particularly interesting.

 The event, organized in collaboration with the American edition of the magazine La Cucina Italiana, introduced the 150 guests who attended to a special selection of wines coming from Italian production areas that still are little known to the American market. The tasting, led by Michael Wilson and Ian Wolff, was incredibly successful and raised questions on ideal wine and food pairings.

The seminar welcomed the Consul General of Italy in Boston, Giuseppe Pastorelli, the Deputy Mayor of Newport, Justin McLaughlin, and the CEO of the Preservation Society of Newport County, Trudy Coxe; they all have praised the perfect match between Italian wines and the historic mansions of Newport County.

“A few months ago, the Italian Trade Commission developed two promotional projects on authentic Italian food products and high quality wines. The goal of both is to educate the American market. Specifically, the program Fashion of the Vine aims to promote high quality wines in fashion and lifestyle focused events. Events that interest a young and trendy audience. The other project, Perusing the Penisula - An exploration of the Wines of Italy wants, instead, to promote Italian wines in the major Wine and Food Festivals, held throughout the country outside of the biggest metropolitan areas with the goal to reach a more traditionalist audience thus, in many cases, a slice of the consumer world that is harder to get to. The Italian Trade Commission is a partner of great operational importance to the wide network of American wine importers,” Aniello Musella, Italian Trade Commissioner in New York said.

The Wine and Food Festival of Newport County welcomed several celebrities, who all praised the quality of Italian products. Among them we find Lidia Bastianich, Ray Isle and Mark Oldman.

The importers were also present and their presence was definitely appreciated. Banfi Vintners, Palm Bay Imports, Dark Star Imports, Wine World Wide Inc., Domaine Select Wine Estates, World Wide Wine, Tre Monti Vineyards, Cascina San Cassiano Foods, Dell’Orto Olive Oil, and Cavedoni Aceti Balsamici participated at the Grand Tasting, presenting a wide selection of wines and food, thus confirming the impeccable quality of Italian goods.