FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:   Elissa Ruffino (NIAF) 202/939-3106202/939-3106 or elissa@niaf.org

* Italian Region of Friuli-Venezia Giulia to Host Coffee, Wine and Food Showcase *

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

(WASHINGTON, DC – August 5, 2002)

The Region of Friuli-Venezia Giulia will host a series of food, wine and coffee tasting and seminars during the National Italian American Foundation’s (NIAF) convention weekend Friday, October 25 and Saturday, October 26 at the Washington Hilton and Towers in Washington, DC. The Friuli-Venezia Giulia region is the 2002 sponsoring region of NIAF’s 27th Annual Convention and Gala. The seminars are free and open to the public.

“We are very pleased to welcome President Renzo Tondo of the Region of Friuli-Venezia Giulia and his colleagues to showcase their gastronomical and wine producing traditions during our convention in the nation’s capital,” said NIAF Chairman Frank J. Guarini. The region is located in the northeastern part of Italy, bordering with Austria to the north and Yugoslavia to the east.

On Friday, October 25 from 2:30-5:30 PM,, “Flavors of Friuli-Venezia Giulia,” featuring wine tasting and workshops will be held in the Jefferson and Lincoln Rooms on the Concourse Level of the Washington Hilton & Towers. The seminar will be divided into six workshops to allow participants to taste some of the best white wines, including Pinot Grigios, Tocai Fruilans and old vintage wines produced during 1999. Experts from the region will discuss the kind of foods to be consumed with the various red and white wines. Attendees will also taste foods that are typical of the region. Four espresso corners located on the Terrace Level of the hotel will allow participants to sample coffee beverages from the region on Friday and Saturday.

On Saturday, October 26, the Italian region will host a coffee tasting during the NIAF Council 2002 breakfast from 9 -11:00 AM in the Georgetown Room on the Concourse Level of the hotel. The meeting is open to current and prospective members. During the gala awards dinner that night, the chefs from the city of Gradiscutta will serve various traditional dishes featuring Montasio cheese and prosciutto San Daniele.

On Friday, October 25, in conjunction with the events sponsored by the Region of Friuli-Venezia Giulia, the NIAF has scheduled three conferences to run concurrently: “Contributions of Italians to the Founding of America,” with an exhibit of an original copy of the Declaration of Independence (9 -10:30 AM in the Georgetown Room); “The New Italian Renaissance: Art Gastronomy and Beauty” (10:30 AM to Noon in the Jefferson East Room); and “Children of the Greats,” with discussions of some of the most famous Italian Americans of the past (10:30 AM to Noon in the Jefferson West Room).