Montesquieu is an avid participant in premier food and wine events across the country where we present some of our most exquisite products from revered boutique vineyards around the globe to the public, and celebrate our strong ties to the elite wine industries of Italy, France, greater Europe, and beyond. As an employee, these events are a great way not only for you to connect to the public, but also to familiarize yourself with the industry at large. Wandering from booth to booth, you will meet some of the world's most famous personalities in wines: oneologues, cavistes, sommeliers, tasters, makers, restauranteurs, and more. Steve Olsen, also known as the Wine Geek, turned up at the 24th Annual Food and Wine Classic in Aspen to teach the general public about the science of food pairing, and answer to questions about terminology and the determination of quality and value.

Working for Montesquieu Wines is a dynamic education in and of itself. Nowhere is this more apparent than in the fact of our presence and participation at many of the county's most distinguished food and wine events. Not only do these events provide a crash course in food and wine, but they are also great hosts of musicians, artists, and artisans:

Piazza d'Italia

“Piazza d'Italia” is hosted by the National Italian American Foundation (NAIF), a U.S. non-profit organization that strives to preserve the background of persons of Italian descent. Held in Washington D.C., the NAIF celebrated some of Italy's finest products on the market. Montesquieu was featured at the event's 'food and wine' section where we showcased some of our wines that best reflect the terroir of the various regions of Italy. A lively and fascinating festival, more than 3,000 individuals participated in this two-day affair. Montesquieu willingly became honorary Italians for the duration and shared in the pride of Italy's vineyards.

The 2006 Piazza d'Italia was visited by numerous celebrities, among them was President George Bush. There, participants sampled wines and a vast array of gourmet Italian foods from olives to and cheeses to prepared meats and pastries. Fashion designers, political groups, and Italian community leaders all presented at the event. And in spite of the fact that the Piazza d'Italia represents a world of all things Italian, it can be guessed that the food and wine booths received the most visitors, and the most repeat visitors!

The 2006 Grand Wine and Food Affair

The name says it all. A truly grand affair, this event runs for five full days and features famous chefs from around the world. The event included cooking classes, wine seminars, vintner dinners, and tastings of reserve wines, to which Montesquieu brought some of their premier wines and best wine authorities. One of the festival's highlights is the “Sienna Sip and Stroll.” During this segment of the festival, only the finest reserve wines, boutique wines, and rare vintages are offered up for sampling. As people 'sipped and strolled' with their divine wines in hand, their ears were filled with the music of live Jazz and Latin bands.

The Executive Chef of Gourmet Magazine, Sara Moulton, served as the Grand Ambassador of Houston's 2006 Food and Wine Affair, during which she showed-off her culinary skills through numerous demonstrations, and signed copies of her latest cookbook for devoted fans. Food and wine pairing formed an integral part of hers and the numerous other demonstrations at the festival.

11th Annual Nantucket Wine Festival

Nantucket Island has always been renowned for its stunning natural beauty, architecture both modern and historical, general cosmopolitan fare, and its famous 19th century role as whaling capital. During the last ten years, nantucket's former status as historic whaling capital has been transformed into the less dubious wine capital for a number of days straight each and every spring. The Festival's most celebrated event is “The Grand Tasting” during which over 150 wineries converge at the festival to offer up samples of their finest wines. The festival begins as it should—with a glass of Champagne for all in attendance. Literally dozens of the wine world's most noted luminaries come to attend this yearly event, among them Marchese Ferdinando Frescobaldi, Vice President of Marchesi de' Frescobaldi and Alex Gambal, the proprietor/winemaker of Maison Alex Gambal where all wines are produced in an artisanal manner on small lots (average production is five to six barrels).