The world of Italian and American wine bids farewell to one of its great protagonists and pioneers: Harry Mariani, who, with his brother John, founded (in 1978) one of the most important wine companies in Italy, has passed away at the age of 78, Castello Banfi (with the fundamental work of Ezio Rivella, a project that today continues under the guidance of Cristina and James Mariani, John and Harry's children, with the property firmly in the hands of the Italo-American family, ed, and then in the world, also thanks to the success achieved by the Mariani family between 1970 and the 1980s with the importation into the States of Lambrusco wine from Cantine Riunite, effectively beginning the "love story" between Italian wines and American consumers. An official note from Banfi itself spread the news.

The wine world of Italy and America salute Harry Mariani

"My father made a great contribution to the wine culture and trade, especially in his early years when professional wine management was nowhere near as developed as it is today, and this expanded the opportunities for consumers to try and enjoy a good bottle of wine, especially from Italy," commented his son James Mariani, co-CEO of Banfi Vintners (the company that exclusively imports all of the group's wines into the US), and who co-owns the company with Cristina Mariani-May, Harry's granddaughter and John's daughter.

Harry Mariani (who together with his brother John has been Banfi's honorary president until today), a graduate of Colgate University (New York), joined Banfi Vintners at the end of the 1950s, coordinated the administrative, commercial and marketing activities, and soon became president of the company. Harry and John joined forces only a year after acquiring the Tuscan property of Castello Banfi, and then broadened their horizons even further by also taking over the historic Piedmontese winery Bruzzone, which has now become Banfi Piemonte.

One of those personalities, perhaps less often in the limelight than others, who made an important contribution to the success of Italian wine in the US and the world. The funeral is scheduled for 13 January in New York, and at the same time a mass and commemoration will be celebrated in the Church of the Castello di Poggio alle Mura di Banfi, in Montalcino.

(Source: winenews.co.uk/)

It is finally online the new video dedicated to Banfi hospitality.
The beauty and attention to detail emerge through different stories, which intertwine to form, in the end, a single tale entitled 'an extraordinary Tuscan experience'.
The video is the result of a collaboration with video maker Astrid Franz (astridfranz.com) who, through the most delicate and careful images, describes the territory, the estate and the activities that can be done while spending a day at Castello Banfi.

Castello Banfi - Il Borgo: an extraordinary Tuscan experience

See the video and leave your feedback in the comments.
Enjoy!

The eighteenth edition of the festival kicks off with "Waiting for Jazz & Wine", on stage at Castello Banfi on 8 July. Once again this year, the festival will feature artists of the highest level: from the manouche jazz of Angelo Debarre, to the extraordinary The Cookers, and the eagerly awaited return of Sergio Cammariere, for the occasion accompanied by Fabrizio Bosso's trumpet.

With its 18th edition, the Jazz & Wine in Montalcino festival (14 - 19 July) confirms itself as one of the longest-running and best-known festivals on the Italian music scene. Born out of the collaboration between Banfi, the well-known Montalcino winery, the Rubei family of the Alexanderplatz in Rome and the Municipality of Montalcino, the festival offers once again this year a programme of absolute artistic level, with Italian and international artists of undisputed fame.

Jazz & Wine in Montalcino

The festival offers a programme of the highest level, with Italian and international artists of undisputed world renown who will be preceded, as usual, by the eagerly awaited 'Waiting for Jazz & Wine' evening on 8 July, within the historic walls of Castello Banfi, with the Radio Trio (Enrico Zanisi - piano, Marco Siniscalco - bass, Emanuele Smimmo - drums), a group inspired by the fun that every radio station offers its listeners, in a continuous and selected mix of songs that often have only the stylistic background in common.

The exhibition, which in this edition sees the partnership of Vodafone Italy, will start on Tuesday 14 July with the inaugural concert at Castello Banfi, featuring Latin jazz by theSin Saudade Duo (Mangalavite & Zamora feat: Israel Varela). From 15 July, the festival will move to the 14th-century Montalcino Fortress with a big band - 20 elements in all - expressly created to celebrate the great combination that has made this festival famous throughout the world: Mario Corvini's Jazz & Wine Orchestra (featuring Jesse Davis). It continues on Thursday 16 July with an unmissable jazz manouche concert, in which the acclaimed guitarist Angelo Debarre, will perform a tribute to Django Reinhardt accompanied by Miraldo Vidal, Simone Magliozzi and Paride Furzi.

Taking the stage at Jazz & Wine on Friday 17 July will be the musician, composer and performer of rare and refined expressive intensity Sergio Cammariereaccompanied by Luca Bulgarelli, Bruno Marcozzi and Amedeo Ariano, special guest the trumpet of Fabrizio Bosso. Saturday 18 July is the turn of The Cookers (Billy Harper, Eddie Henderson, David Donald Harrison, George Cables,, Cecil Mc Bee, Billy Hart), an extraordinary group that brings together some of the most celebrated and iconic instrumentalists in jazz today. Closing this great edition of the festival, on Sunday 19 July, will be the Paixao Trio, feat: Maurizio Giammarco, in a concert that will range between the rhythms of jazz and Brazilian music.

The festival will also be a tribute to the memory of the late Giampiero Rubei, the creator, soul and heart of Jazz & Wine. In the name of continuity, the Artistic Direction is entrusted to his son, Paolo Rubei.

Excellent results for Banfi at The Sommelier Wine Awards 2015, where 2 of our wines were awarded the Gold Medal - Poggio alle Mura 2010, Brunello di Montalcino DOCG & Rosa Regale 2014, Brachetto d'Acqui DOCG - and another was awarded the Silver Medal - Poggio alle Mura Riserva 2009, Brunello di Montalcino DOCG.

Sommelier Wine Awards

The Sommelier Wine Awards is the only UK competition for on-trade wines, and is focused exclusively on those wines intended to be marketed in the on-trade. Since its inception in 2007, the competition has grown to become the first point of reference for on-trade buyers as well as the main competition for those wines wishing to increase their presence in hotels, pubs, bars and restaurants. Judges serve or buy wine in the on-trade, and wines with a high distribution in the large-scale retail trade are not allowed to participate, with the exception of sparkling or fortified wines, and those with exclusive online sales.

Banfi, Poggio alle Mura, Brunello di Montalcino

Undoubtedly young, it is to be hoarded and cellared if possible. 'Delicious open style with a delicate floral touch and more complex fruit notes of cherry and plum,' began team leader Simon Woods, who continued: 'Balanced, good, refined and long.' 'Red and black fruits, minerality and cedar wood, slightly hard tannins, balanced alcohol and a long finish,' said Gareth Ferreira of Launceston Place.

Banfi, Rosa Regale, Brachetto d'Acqui

How wonderful. Drink it outside, slightly chilled, or accompany it with any dessert that includes dark chocolate. 'Lush and summery, with soft bubbles and raspberry,' said consultant Eike Bosche, with team leader Tom Forrest adding: 'Hints of cherry gum, cherry and raspberry make it fresh in the mouth, with balanced sugar in the finish.'

Following research by Jane Reynolds of Oyster.comwhich was later taken up by ABC Newswith great joy we find Banfi Castle - The Borgo among the 6 splendid Italian castles where you can stay.

"Many of us have dreamed of living in a castle. After all, this is often accompanied by quite a few perks! Well, here at Oyster.com we all try to turn dreams into reality, so we have scoured Italy - from the countryside to the cobbled streets of the city, to find beautiful castles where you can actually stay. These six historic hotels are all housed within former castles, and therefore exude a regal atmosphere from the majestic facades to the ancient interiors." J. Reynold

Castello Banfi, Italian castles to stay in

Castello Banfi Il Borgo is an 18th century rural village built around the medieval Banfi Castle. The village ('Il Borgo' in Italian), has been restored and transformed into a luxury resort, and is part of a 7,100-acre property where high quality red wines are produced. The hotel's 14 rooms and suites reflect this heritage, and each has been named after one of the labels produced by Banfi.

Expect a rich character of historic charm throughout the property; picturesque stone buildings with wooden beams, brick arches, and terracotta tiles inside. The elegant swimming pool has breathtaking views over the vineyards, and there are also two restaurants, a wine shop, and a glass museum. For those wishing to explore the region, destinations such as Siena and Montepulciano are about an hour's drive away.

For the full article:
https://gma.yahoo.com/6-stunning-italian-castles-actually-stay-051015676–abc-news-travel.html

The Tuscan wine estate known throughout the world for the Brunello di Montalcino joins New Holland Agriculture's EcoBraud project

"With just under a month to go before the most important event of the year in the agri-food world, we make our collaboration with New Holland official. Together we have outlined a common project for a better wine and a cleaner world, and we will be present in the Sustainable Farm Pavilion." Banfi's sales and marketing director reports this to AgroNotizie, Rodolfo Maralli.

Banfi and New Holland together at Expo 2015

During Expo Milano 2015 Banfi was invited to present a selection of its wines in the New Holland Agriculture pavilion. The two companies, both at the forefront of their respective fields, share a common goal: a commitment to sustainability and quality.

The first wine company in Italy to complete the certification process in 2006, the year in which it obtained SA8000, Banfi has always promoted programmes of low environmental impact cultivation based on the protection of biodiversity, the responsible use of resources and the containment of erosive phenomena.

In addition to using a system for washing agricultural machinery called Biobed, which decontaminates residues making them biodegradable, in recent years Banfi has reduced the weight of its bottles, achieving significant environmental benefits, and, thanks to an agreement with Repower, has completed the transition from traditional to renewable energy sources, contributing to the reduction of CO2 emissions.

L'joining New Holland's ECOBraud programmebased on the use of New Holland viticulture machines, including specialist tractors and Braud grape harvestersFinally, it allowed Banfi to reduce the ecological impact of every single bottle of wine produced by 10%, significantly limiting the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere.

In the New Holland pavilion, Banfi will present a selection of its fine labels:

• Poggio alle Mura, Brunello di Montalcino DOCG
• Poggio alle Mura, Rosso di Montalcino DOC
• Fonte alla Selva, Chianti Classico DOCG
• La Pettegola, Vermentino Toscana IGT

https://agronotizie.imagelinenetwork.com/agrimeccanica/2015/04/08/banfi-e-new-holland-insieme-a-expo-2015/42546?utm_source=notifiche&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=notifica-azienda-11944&utm_content=kANArticolo-42546

Journalist Ooi May Sim recounts the wine maker dinner held in Malaysia at the Senja restaurant. At the 'direction', the resident chef of the Sala dei Grappoli, Domenico Francone, accompanied by the best selection of Banfi wines.

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