Alberto Lazzarino, the historic and charismatic oenologist director of Banfi Piemonte in Strevi (AL), sadly passed away prematurely, at the end of a brief but unrelenting illness.

Alberto, born in 1963, was born in Turin and after graduating as an oenologist at the Scuola Enologica di Alba and some work experience at the Fratelli Martini company and the Cantina Sociale di Maranzana, he joined the Banfi family in 2002, linking his name and talent to some of the group's most beautiful and significant projects.

Always active at an institutional level in the consortia of the territory, he was also President of the Piedmont Section of Assoenologi.

The memory of Alberto Lazzarino

His passion, his rigour and his ability to combine curiosity with competence, together with an innate optimism and a smile that never abandoned him, even in the hardest hours of his illness, will forever be in the memories of those who knew and esteemed him, as well as a lesson and guide for those who will continue, in Strevi as well as in Montalcino, to carry on his work and his projects.

With its Brunello di Montalcino Poggio alle Mura Riserva 2013 receiving the Quattro Viti award in Vitae 2020, the guide of the Italian Sommelier Association, Banfi receives the prestigious TASTEVINthe award that honours a select group of only twenty-two companies, one from each Italian region.

The award ceremony took place on Friday 25 October, during the preview presentation of the guide reserved for the press, in the setting of the Nuvola, the Roman structure designed by internationally renowned architect Massimiliano Fuksas.

Cristiano Cini, President of AIS Toscana, said during the award ceremony: 'This is recognition of the great work carried out by Banfi, since its inception, in and for the territory of Montalcino, as well as for its symbolic wine, Brunello. A work carried out with constancy and great attention to the values of sustainability, in all its aspects, from the environmental to the social and economic one'.

Sustainability

That of the sustainability is a theme that is very dear to Banfi, which, during the round table on Friday 18 October, organised for the presentation of the fourth issue of the Sustainability Report for the 2018 financial year, took the opportunity to discuss sustainable development, with a view to sharing it with the entire territory, for a common growth and to understand whether the Sustainability Report can be a fundamental tool for the enhancement of the territory.

This is an important recognition for the Montalcino winery and the Mariani family who, only a few months ago, had received the 'Wine Family of the Year' award at the Meininger 'Excellence in Wine & Spirit' Awards in Düsseldorf.

On stage, together with the President of AIS Italia, Antonello Maietta, the President of AIS Toscana and the Head of the Guide for Tuscany, Leonardo Taddei, presenting the award in the hands of Cristina Mariani-May, representative of the third generation family owner of Banfi, was the Director of Winenews, Alessandro Regoli.

The words of Cristina Mariani-May

Cristina Mariani-May, said: 'I am very honoured and proud to be here today to receive this very prestigious award. It is a recognition of our dedication and our love for the Montalcino territory. It is our responsibility for this territory and for all that it represents, that it has represented for centuries and will continue to represent for hundreds of years to come. On behalf of myself and my father John, I express my heartfelt thanks to the entire Italian Sommelier Association that has done, and is doing, so much for Italian wine. I would also like to add my thanks to the Banfi team for the work done over these forty years at my family's side'.