An all-American dinner for the new US President and his First Lady but with a taste of Italy, thanks to Carpenè Malvolti Prosecco DOC

Conegliano, 27 January 2009 - There was even a little bit of Italy at the dinner organised in Washington by the National Press Club for the Arkansas Society and hosted by Glenn Mahone/Patty Powers for the new American President and his First Lady, Barack and Michelle Obama. The menu, reminiscent of what Abraham Lincoln served his guests when he was sworn in back in 1861, was an all-American treat from start to finish and included seafood hors-d'oeuvres, pheasant and duck with sweet potatoes and root vegetables, rounded off with an apple cinnamon sponge dessert and washed down with Prosecco DOC di Conegliano e Valdobbiadene Cuvée Extra Dry. The new First Family and previous occupants of the White House, Bill and Hillary Clinton, together with more than one thousand guests, enjoyed a toast with Carpenè, courtesy of the two hundred bottles it had sent for the occasion. Their glasses were duly filled as all present wished the most powerful man on the planet good luck in his new job on the eve of the official swearing-in ceremony on Capitol Hill.

This was a real "first" for Italian sparkling wine and was made possible thanks to the contribution of the Veneto Region which was instrumental in making this great opportunity such a success for Prosecco. It was also an occasion to pay tribute to the many people from Veneto who live in the United States and Prosecco will have further coverage thanks to the stateside importer Giulio Angelini of Angelini Wine Ltd - Centerbrook, who will be appearing in the forthcoming TV series Cooking with the Stars with chef Shaun Foley who will be discussing the subject of "Ultimate Alternatives to Champagne".

Barack Obama has also received a bottle of Prosecco DOC of the most famous and historical Italian "perlage" from the sparkling wine producer of Conegliano, as has the family of the new Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who was recently appointed by the Senate.

Every aspect of Obama Day was inspired by Abraham Lincoln: as well as the dinner menu, the new president was sworn in using the very same Bible which had belonged to Lincoln and which he himself used in the same ceremony in 1861. Obama's inaugural address also echoed Lincoln's and he retraced the route taken by Lincoln on his way to the White House. The President-elect left Philadelphia by train - as Lincoln did on his way to Washington - travelling through Delaware, the hometown of Vice President Joe Biden and Baltimore, before reaching the capital for the culmination of the celebrations.

Carpenè's participation at this important event once again confirms its leadership and the high regard the international community has for it, further reinforced by the recent partnerships with Lufthansa - who will be serving Carpenè Malvolti Brut Millesimato Metodo Classico in First and Business Class on its international flights from Malpensa - and Trenitalia which will offer Prosecco in Business Class on its new High Speed Frecciarossa® train. And let's not forget Carpenè's presence in Casa Italia during the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.