- VinItaly Honors Winery for 10 Straight Years -
The 2003 VinItaly Concorso Enologico Internazionale held early this month in Verona has confirmed Castello Banfi of Montalcino, Tuscany as Italy’s best winery.
The official recognition, awarded to Castello Banfi for the tenth year in a row, was based on the judgment of a jury of over 100 wine professionals and journalists from all over the world. They blind-tasted 3,334 wines from 31 countries and granted Castello Banfi wines a higher cumulative score than any other Italian vintner.
“In our 25th year, we are proud to be recognized as an ambassador of Tuscany’s fine wine Renaissance” said Cristina Mariani-May, who oversees estate operations on her family’s behalf. “This honor, year after year, confirms and inspires our efforts toward excellence and innovation while staying true to the noble tradition of our Tuscan terroir.”
Castello Banfi is also an unprecedented four-time “International Winery of the Year,” winning the “Premio Gran VinItaly” at the same competition in 1994, 1995, 1996 and 2000.
Castello Banfi was the only Italian winery among the eight producers awarded the “Premio Speciale VinItaly 2003.” This prize is calculated by adding the points received by each producer’s top three wines earning a “Grand Mention” in the tastings. A total of 95 medals are awarded out of over 3,000 wines, making it one of the most selective competitions in the wine world.
The Castello Banfi vineyard estate has been described as a “constellation of single vineyards.” Its premium wines include the Poggio all’Oro single vineyard reserve of the Montalcino region’s historic Brunello di Montalcino, noble international varietals and three proprietary cuvées, SummuS, ExcelsuS and Cum Laude. A medieval castle crowns the estate and serves as a hospitality center for the region, housing two restaurants, an enoteca, and a museum tracing the history of glass as it relates wine.
