Old Brookville, NY, March 15, 2010 -- Banfi Vintners, a pioneering leader in the Chilean wine category, confirms plans to make a substantial contribution toward efforts to rebuild and rehabilitate victims of the recent and devastating earthquake in Chile. An estimated 2 million people have been left homeless as a result of the magnitude 8.8 quake, which struck in the early hours of February 27. The countrys infrastructure has also been hard-hit.
Banfi Vintners will donate $150,000 to Levantando Chile (Raise the Roof for Chile). In addition, Banfi is encouraging distributor partners to join in supporting relief efforts through several strategically run programs. Not least, the company is working closely with friends and colleagues at Concha y Toro on specific initiatives and funding designed to help employees and their families in Chile to rebuild their lives following this disaster.
“With Banfi Vintners accounting for almost 50% of all bottled Chilean wines sold in the U.S., it is incumbent on us to rally to the aid of the people of Chile in their time of need,” observed James Mariani, Co-CEO, Banfi Vintners.
For more than two decades, Banfi Vintners has served as the primary catalyst for the Chilean wine industry in the U.S., dating back to 1988 when the company acquired import rights to represent Concha y Toro, Chiles largest wine producer. In 1989, in line with its philosophy of spearheading fine wines at a reasonable price, Banfi Vintners went on to launch the hugely successful Walnut Crest label. Subsequent additions to Banfis portfolio of Chilean estates include Emiliana, today the worlds largest source of estate-grown wines made from sustainably farmed and organic grapes, Palo Alto in Chiles Maule region and most recently, Maycas del Limari, a boutique property in northern Chile.
Banfi Vintners has a long-established track record of support for charitable and philanthropic causes. This includes funding reconstruction efforts in Potenza, Italy, in the wake of the 1980 earthquake, as well as numerous endowments made to universities and educational establishments around the world.
