Cristina Mariani-Mayowner of Castello Banfi, the internationally renowned Tuscan wine company, is set to ring the closing bell at the NASDAQ stock market.

Ms. Mariani-May was joined for the ceremony by Marilisa Allegrini, owner of the Veneto-based winery of the same name, by Giovanni Mantovani, CEO of Verona Fiere and organiser of Vinitaly and Vinitaly World Tour, as well as by representatives of the American Cancer Society.

Castelo Banfi rings the NASDAQ closing bell

The closing ceremony is the decisive moment in a series of events marking the presentation of a donation of 45,000$ in favour of the American Cancer Society promoted by Vinitaly, an organisation dedicated to the international promotion of Italian wines and the organisation of the world's largest wine fair.

In a brief address to traders on the floor of the largest stock market trading floor in the US, Ms Mariani-May comments: 'In Italy, wine is rarely consumed away from meals and a meal is not complete without a glass of wine. This integral part of Italian culture becomes a serious business if it is exploited as a commercial key for international trade'.

Ms. Mariani-May, thanking Vinitaly for its efforts in supporting and communicating the quality of Italian wine around the world, concluded with a toast to fellow Italian producers, including Ms. Allegrini, who "cross traditional boundaries from vineyards to communication, captivating the world with talent and quality."

Ranked number one among imported wines in America last year, Italian wine grew even during the recent economic crisis, accounting for 32.5% of the total wine imported to the market in the first half of 2010, allowing Italy to distinguish itself from its international competitors.

The first Castello Banfi photo competition ended on 10 December: Banfi DiVini Moments.

Below is a list of the lucky winners of the competition with the photo of them:

1st Prize: Nicola Esposito - 'Divine Moments and Beyond

2nd prize: Heikki Del Sarto - 'Momento DiVino'.

3rd prize: Luca Grandi - 'First olfactory analysis

4th prize: Gregorio Urzino - 'Firenze 186'.

5th prize: Liliana Rosadelli - 'A wine for grown-ups_1

6th prize: Manuela Calistri - 'photo 1- belnero'.

7th prize: Alberto Vichi - '004'.

8th prize: Isabella Cecconi - "Brunello Sommelier and Sasso Natale!!!"

Banfi DiVini Moments

We would like to remind you that the first prize consists of a stay at the splendid Castello Banfi, with an overnight stay in the prestigious Relais "Il Borgo" and a visit to the Banfi winery. The second prize, the "Banfi Toscana" package, is an elegant box containing 6 bottles of the Banfi Toscana line and typical Tuscan cuisine products. The third prize, on the other hand, is a precious box of wine service gadgets.

The fourth to eighth prize winners will receive a valuable "Style ribs', consisting of 3 bottles from the Banfi Toscana line: Centine, Centine Bianco and Centine Rosé.

A sincere thank you and our best wishes for a fantastic 2011 to all those who participated, giving us some truly stunning and original photos!