Castello Banfi, the Tuscan company that represents one of the main ambassadors of "made in Italy" wine in the world, will be involved in two important events/tastings during Vinitaly. In both cases, Cristina Mariani-May, owner of Castello Banfi, will present the flagship of Banfi's production, Poggio all'Oro 2004.

The first event will be "Pioneers of Made in Italyorganised by the authoritative magazine "Drinking Civilisation, will be held Friday 8 April (from 10.30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Palaexpo, Sala Argento, basement floor) and will see the Poggio all'Oro Brunello di Montalcino Riserva 2004 among the great protagonists.

The event, which aims to celebrate the 150 years of the Unification of Italywill mark the end of the tour organised by Civiltà del Bere with Veronafiere. A tour that has already seen us as protagonists in New York, Washington, Hong Kong and Tokyo at the end of 2010. "Everyone talks about the Unity of Italy. We will do it too: in our own way." Declares Alessandro Torcoli, Director of Civiltà del Bere.

On this occasion, the fundamental stages of Italian wine production, which began at the end of the 19th century, are retraced, addressing the development of morphological science and the birth of modern-day wines such as Barolo, Chianti and Brunello, and giving due prominence to the protagonists of the true 'Miracle of Italian Wine'.

Over the last forty years, the companies involved in the seminar have developed their 'brands', those labels that have taken Italy to the top of the global market by creating the 'Italian style'; a dream that has made Italy the symbol to be followed, and admired, by gourmet palates all over the world.

Castello Banfi stars in two major events at Vinitaly 2011 with Poggio all'Oro 2004

Castello Banfi will be among the protagonists of this event, as a winery-symbol of the territory of Montalcino, the company that has made Brunello known throughout the world. Also for this reason, in 2009 it received the Vinitaly International Prize, a prestigious award that has been assigned since 1996 to Italian and international personalities who have particularly distinguished themselves in the international context for their work and for their role as ambassadors of wine culture.

Castello Banfi has managed to cultivate technological innovation with a view to production and environmental protection, without ever forgetting the importance of tradition.

Following this, on Saturday 9 April (from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Room B Palaexpo A2 -1st floor) Castello Banfi will be the protagonist of another important event, organised by "Wine Enthusiast", to celebrate and award the best 100 wines in the world ranked in the annual list of the prestigious magazine, "Top Italian Wines of 2010".

During the event, an award ceremony will take place in which the Poggio all'Oro Brunello di Montalcino Riserva 2004, ranked in Wine Enthusiast's Top 100 list for 2010, will receive the coveted award in the hands of Cristina Mariani-May.

The awards ceremony will be followed by the seminar "The Wine Enthusiast Rankingconducted by Monica Larner, Italian editor of the influential magazine, where ten of the best Italian wines will be offered, including Poggio all'Oro 2004. Cristina Mariani-May will take part in the tasting.

ON 9 MARCH, DINNER FOR FOUR FOR AN EXTRAORDINARY EVENING AT LA TENDA ROSSA RESTAURANT IN CERBAIA VAL DI PESA

Dinner4chef & Banfi Castle

Maria Salcuni, Maria Probst, Cristian Santandrea and Oliver Glowig will be the four 'starred' chefs, who will take turns at the cooker, in the preparation of the rich menu starring the evening at La Tenda Rossa Restaurant on 9 March.

Each of them will sign a dish, in an alternation of different but complementary flavours and contaminations, for a menu that promises wonderful sensations.

Accompanying the dishes are the excellent wines of the fine Banfi Castle company.

Maria Probst with 'Chupa Chups paired with Cuvèe Royale Brut Joseph Perrier

Oliver Glowig with 'Cod tripe with ricotta cheese, snow peas and bacon'. paired with Blanc de Blancs Joseph Perrier 2002

Maria Salcuni with 'Caramelle di fagioli all'uccelletto con ragù d'arista e ossobuco' & 'Perline di patate di montagna al tartufo bianchetto & Pici spadellati alle erbe spontanee di campo'. in combination with Faro Palari 2007

Oliver Glowig with 'Pigeon and cockerel stuffed with goose foie gras in an olive and dried fruit crust with celeriac puree'. paired with Poggio all'Oro Brunello di Montalcino Riserva 1999

Cristian Santandrea with 'Mint Popsicle, Chocolate Consistency, Small pastry'. paired with Rum Caroni 1992 

For information castlewww.banfi.it and latendarossa.it

Reservations info@latendarossa.it  tel. 055 826132

MONTALCINO - "IT'S BEAUTIFUL!!!" Indeed: wonderful.

What, sorry, Ms Mariani? One imagines that so much enthusiasm is for a budget asset, for a contract. Besides, the desk of this charming American lady is cluttered with reports, prospectuses, proposals.

With the phone that sounds like a metronome. Every ten seconds a ring. "But no, it's beautiful the rainbow".

The only thing missing is Judy Garland singing... The atmosphere, however, is really a bit magical. It is the enthusiasm that only a girl born in the shadow of Manhattan's skyscrapers can feel when absolute Tuscan panoramas appear in front of her window: the cypress trees, the olive groves, the hills of Monte dei Lecci and the expanse of vineyards that surround Castello Banfi. "Here," explains Cristina Mariani, president of Castello Banfi: 55 million turnover, 10.5 million bottles of which 60% are sold abroad, "the fascination of making wine, of dealing with wine, is enclosed in that rainbow.

But the crisis? But the Brunello case?

"Things happen,' replies Cristina, who has golden hair and a sweet gaze, even though in the company they say she is an efficiency maniac and divides her time between the two sides of the Atlantic; and between a family of three children and a husband and a company with hundreds of employees, 'but the real value is this landscape, this territory, and the possibility of working with the land. The crisis is passing, Brunello, moreover, is selling very well'.

Do her American friends envy her?

'Yes. Maybe they are top managers, maybe they have a lot of dollars, maybe they are happy, but when I tell them about my Tuscany, my Montalcino, my wine the expression is always one of wonder. I seem to hear them whisper: blessed are you'.

Is Made in Tuscany still a strong value in America?

'Absolutely. In America it is a kind of fatal attraction, but also in the rest of the world when you say that you are Italian and that you make wine in Italy they look at you with the sweet eyes of astonishment'.

Excuse me, but she is not exactly Italian. She was born in America, studied in America, sells wine mainly in America...

'But I have an Italian surname, I live in Italy, I love Italy, I make one of the best wines, Brunello di Montalcino, in the world in Italy. And if I have to tell the truth now I feel more Italian than American. And then I live in the land of Dante, Botticelli, Galilei, Michelangelo, Puccini and Verdi. When I remind my American friends of this, I seem to see my children when I used to tell them fairy tales'.

One hears that Italy's image is tarnished. To listen to you, it doesn't sound like it...

"For work I go from New York to Singapore, from Rio to Shanghai and I have never found anyone who was not fascinated by Italy. It may be because I tell them in English, but the perception of Italy in the world is of absolute quality in production and a lifestyle to which everyone aspires. And these are the values that are needed to sell wine. The image of the territories is fundamental and the image of Italy is at the top'.

Vinitaly opens in just over a week: what are the prospects for the wine economy?

"Excellent on foreign markets, a little less so on the domestic market. In the USA we are selling very well, in Germany, which remains the first market for Italian wine, the recovery is strong. And it is not at all true that high-priced wines do not sell. They sell if you are able to convey the true value of these bottles. In Italy things are slower, but the consumer, even if he has become much more selective than before, knows how to recognise quality. What no longer works is selling smoke. All over the world today people sell, they know how to make people appreciate the quality of the product'.

But isn't it worth asking whether wine marketing is old?

"I am convinced of that. Today we need direct communication with the consumer, we have to make the consumer perceive the value of the investment that he who buys a bottle of wine is making. It is an investment of feeling, sensation and pleasure. From this point of view, wine tourism plays a fundamental role. Those who come to Montalcino, perhaps those who come to our Castle that is also a relais and restaurant, have an authentic perception of the value of our wine that is also given by the beauty of our land. And this I believe is the right recipe for the whole of wine Italy. And not only'.

Excuse me, Ms Mariani, but it is strange that you should be saying this: an American....

"No, it is not strange. I am a woman who is aware that in the world of wine, women today have a prominent place: there are very good winemakers, excellent businesswomen, superb tasters who have brought an extra touch of charm, creativity and passion to wine. And I am an American-born woman who had a dream: Italy. That is why a rainbow moves me'.

Roma Caput Vini, the novel published by Mondadori and written in four hands by Giovanni Negri and his wife Elisabetta Petrini, will be presented on 2 December at Castello Banfi, Montalcino.

The novel, highlighting how intense the link between Rome and wine was, makes a precise historical reconstruction, to discover that wine is to Rome as Coca Cola is to the United States, and to establish without a shadow of a doubt that many of today's most famous wines, both Italian and French, were born at the hands of the ancient Romans.

Roma Caput Vini, the novel published by Mondadori

Giovanni Negri tells us the astonishing history of wine in Rome, which in the second century B.C. experiences its main moment, when wine from being a luxury drink for patricians becomes vinum, food and mass pleasure.

'No tree before the sacred vine shalt thou plant, O Varus'. Following Horace's admonition to the letter, Rome required its soldiers to plant vines, stipulating that the centurion, a key figure in the army, would hold in his right hand a staff of command called vitis, a vine branch.

From the taverns of Rome to the feasts at Pompeii, from Pliny the Younger's wine guide to the wine-food-sex combination, from the spread throughout the regions of the Empire to the prohibition era, an amazing tour of wine in ancient Rome.

At the centre of the book is the incredible discovery made recently by Professor Attilio Scienza, holder of the Chair of Viticulture at the University of Milan and a scholar of vine genetics who, since the early 1980s, has been collaborating with Castello Banfi on zoning and clonal research projects on Sangiovese. Thanks to his group's studies and the most advanced DNA analysis techniques, Prof. Scienza has identified 78 European grape varieties that are all genetic descendants of the heunisch (Hun), the vine propagated by the Roman legions so that it could be planted in every land of the empire.

European wines therefore have a putative mother in Rome, a great military but also agricultural power, which placed the vine on the continent, and in the majestic Roman legions, transformed in peacetime into the most formidable instrument for spreading and cultivating the vine.

On 2 December 2011, at 5 p.m., Castello Banfi will host the presentation of this extraordinary narrative work published by Mondadori, Roma Caput Vini.

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!

New York, 7 November 2010 - Cristina Mariani-May, owner of Castello Banfi, participated again this year in the queen of marathons, the New York marathon, on 7 November.

In an incredible coincidence, then, Cristina Mariani-May She was up against Carla Errazuriz, the fastest of the group of five marathon runners in New York representing Chile's Concha y Toro.

Castello Banfi and Concha y Toro, the two leading companies at the New York Marathon

"It is a thrilling experience to run the New York Marathon," said Cristina Mariani-May, "and it was amazing to meet some friends along the way. It was a really exciting race, where I was even able to beat my personal best by three minutes!"

The entire Concha y Toro team was already victorious before arriving at the starting line on the Ponte di Verrazzano: each of them had earned their place on the team after a competition with thirty other colleagues. The prize? A fully paid trip to New York and the honour of representing the extraordinary Chilean winery at such an important event!

Rivals on the streets of New York, Castello Banfi and Concha y Toro are on the same team when it comes to wine!

Name	Place	Gender Place	Finish Time
Cristina Mariani-May	5036	648	03:30:12

It is now official: the Poggio all'Oro 2004 won one of the most prestigious awards in the wine world, the Tre Bicchieri in the 2011 edition of the Guida Vini d'Italia published by Gambero Rosso.

Castello Banfi Poggio all'Oro 2004 won the coveted Tre Bicchieri in the 2011 edition of the Gambero Rosso guide

"A welcome return to the Three Glasses for Brunello Poggio all'Oro Riserva '04, proposed for the first time after the '99 vintage. Very elegant, it has an intense nose, with balsamic notes and blackberry and cherry jam. The tannins are smooth, the progression compelling, for a finish of great persistence."

-Gambero Rosso Wines of Italy 2011

Poggio all'Oro Brunello di Montalcino Riserva DOCG, is a rarity, produced only in excellent vintages. Before the award-winning 2004 vintage, the prestigious Riserva was only produced nine times since 1985, the first year of production.

Great success for the Centine Rosso and the CollePino, two of the most suitable wines for everyday consumption, which receive important recognition in the "Berebene Low Cost 2011" guide by Gambero Rosso, one of the most authoritative and well-established publications in the sector: a guide aimed at wine enthusiasts who, ever more attentive to the quality-price balance, do not want to renounce high quality in the selection of the best products.

Red and CollePino ribs

The CollePino received the quality-price premium while the Centine Rosso, historical house brand Banfi, receives the prestigious national quality-price awardan award given to six wines throughout Italy!

These wines, an expression of the genuine and authentic character of the Tuscan land, are produced with selected grapes from the specialised estate vineyards as well as from the most suitable areas of the region.

Products that, thanks to their character and freshness, are suitable for daily consumption without ever renouncing the style and quality standard guaranteed by Banfi.

Wine Enthusiast, one of the most influential wine magazines, awarded the Poggio all'Oro 2004 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva with 95/100, also ranking it among the 100 best wines of the year for long ageing.

Poggio all'oro 2004 awarded by Wine Enthusiast

Castello Banfi's 2004 Riserva received particularly flattering opinions from the prestigious American magazine for its complex yet balanced structure, marked personality and extraordinary consistency.

Since 1985, the first year of production, Poggio all'Oro Brunello di Montalcino Riserva DOCG has only been produced nine times.