Starting 20 to 26 July, Jazz & Wine in Montalcino returns with its 29th edition, renewing the encounter between music, culture and wine in the suggestive settings of Castello Banfi and Fortress of Montalcino.
Born from the collaboration between Banfi, the Rubei family of’Alexanderplatz Jazz Club in Rome and the Municipality of Montalcino, the festival will feature some of the most important Italian and international jazz performers on stage.
The 2026 programme crosses diverse languages and sounds: from the energy of Kenny Garrett Electric Band, with a tribute to Miles Davis, to the sophistication of Danilo Rea and Doctor 3, up to the projects of Stefano Di Battista, Rita Marcotulli, Andy Sheppard ed Enrico Rava.
A week where jazz meets the landscape of Montalcino and the region's winemaking excellence.
From 6 to 10 July 2026, the Sanguis Jovis Summer School returns to Montalcino, Fondazione Banfi's project dedicated to training new Sangiovese professionals.
At the heart of the IX Edition will be the theme “Artificial. When the hand of man improves nature”A course of study and discussion to deepen our understanding of wine as an intersection of nature, culture, and human intelligence.
Sanguis Jovis is born to create people who are solid in their preparation, open to new things, and rich in culture. Because culture is not a goal, but the only possible way to see things: even in wine, even in Sangiovese, even in the future of a territory.
The programme will accompany participants through five days of in-depth study: from the human meaning of the artificial to wine as an agricultural, biochemical and socio-economic artefact, culminating in Banfi-Day and the Rudy Buratti Degree Award Ceremony.
On Friday, 29 May, at 6:00 PM, “Coppi è una musica” will be staged at the Teatro degli Astrusi in Montalcino, as part of the special events for Eroica® Montalcino 2026, in collaboration with Banfi. An evening dedicated to Fausto Coppi, featuring storytelling, music, and cycling culture.
It begins with a talk about the book “Fausto, il mio Coppi. Storia di un amore in salita” by Luciana Rota, published by DFG Lab. The author will be in conversation with journalist Lina Senserini. Also taking to the stage will be Giancarlo Brocci, founder of Eroica®; Franco Rossi, President of Eroica®; Cristina Mariani-May, CEO and President of Banfi Società Agricola srl; and Rodolfo Maralli, President of Banfi srl.
Following this, the book will come to life through music and theatre: readings, words and interpretations dedicated to the great Campionissimo, with a repertoire from MIC – Musica Italiana Cantautorale. This will be performed by Alessandro Galli, on vocals and guitar, and Elisabetta Daolio, on flute. Also on stage will be the original bicycle used by Coppi for his hour record at Vigorelli in 1942.
An appointment that renews the bond between Banfi and Eroica®, experienced also through the Poggio alle Mura team, an authentic symbol of this union.
On Friday, 29 May, at 6:00 PM, “Coppi è una musica” arrives at the Teatro degli Astrusi in Montalcino, as one of the special events of Eroica® Montalcino 2026, in collaboration with Banfi. An evening dedicated to Fausto Coppi, through storytelling, music and cycling culture.
The event opens with a talk on the book “Fausto, il mio Coppi. Storia di un amore in salita” by Luciana Rota, published by DFG Lab. The author will be in conversation with journalist Lina Senserini. Also taking the stage will be Giancarlo Brocci, founder of Eroica®; Franco Rossi, President of Eroica®; Cristina Mariani-May, CEO and President of Banfi Società Agricola srl; and Rodolfo Maralli, President of Banfi srl.
The book will then come to life in a musical and theatrical dimension: readings, words and interpretations dedicated to the Campionissimo, with a repertoire from MIC – Musica Italiana Cantautorale, performed by Alessandro Galli, vocals and guitar, and Elisabetta Daolio, flute. Also on stage will be the original bicycle used by Coppi for his hour record at the Vigorelli in 1942.
An event that reinvigorates the bond between Banfi and Eroica®, also experienced by the Poggio alle Mura team, an authentic symbol of this union.
20th May celebrates the World Bee Day, the World Bee Day dedicated to bees and other pollinators: tiny beings essential for the health of ecosystems, the protection of biodiversity and the maintenance of natural balances.
Follow the cycles. Recognise the right time. Operate with precision.
There is much that can be learned from bees: attention to detail, respect for natural rhythms, the ability to transform daily work into a precious balance. It is a lesson that Banfi safeguards within its own estate, where numerous beehives offer the colonies small shelters dotted across the landscape.
The presence of bees is not merely a sign of life. It is part of a broader vision, linked to the protection of biodiversity and the conservation of nature. This is why Banfi has chosen to invest in beekeeping, recognising their fundamental role in ecosystems and the maintenance of environmental balance.
From this meeting of nature, territory, and patient work, the Miele Millefiori BanfiA polyfloral honey, produced from the nectar of different flower species. Sweet, pleasant, rich in nuances that change with the season and the production area, it tells the story of the estate's variety in a simple and authentic way.
A delicate product, perfect to enjoy at the table, in homemade desserts, or paired with aged and semi-spicy cheeses. But also something more: the concrete result of a balance that Banfi chooses to support every day.
Why learning from bees also means this: protecting what is small, precise, and essential. And recognising that every action, when born from respect for nature, can become value.
There are bonds that are forged naturally, sharing the same places, the same rhythms, and the same way of experiencing the land. This is the case for Banfi and Eroica® Montalcino, united by a relationship built over time among the hills, vineyards, and white roads of the Val d'Orcia.
Since 2017, the year of the first edition of Eroica® Montalcino, this route has been renewed, pedal stroke by pedal stroke, vintage after vintage. A bond based on authenticity, respect for the landscape, attention to sustainability, and the enhancement of a unique heritage.
Among the`], rows of the Banfi estate and the roads travelled by cyclists, an experience takes shape that goes beyond sport: a slow and profound way to cross the territory, breathe in its beauty and truly live its identity.
Representing this spirit is also the Poggio alle Mura team, born from a small group of enthusiasts and now a increasingly recognisable presence within the Eroica® world. A team that has grown over time, united by a passion for cycling, by the sharing of effort and by the bond with the territory of Montalcino.
The Eroica Montalcino event will return in 2026, taking place from 29th to 31st May. Italy's most famous cycling event will conclude on Sunday 31st May in the heart of Montalcino, in Piazza del Popolo. Once again, white roads, iconic landscapes and heroic spirit will accompany cyclists and enthusiasts through one of Tuscany's most representative territories.
Alta Langa arrives in the heart of Rome and Banfi brings some of the most representative expressions of Cuvée Aurora for tasting, the project dedicated to the Piedmontese Classic Method.
On Monday 11 May, in the spaces of Palazzo Brancaccio, it will be possible to discover a journey through style, precision and evolution over time through four labels:
Cuvée Aurora Extra Brut 2021
Cuvée Aurora Rosé Extra Brut 2022
Cuvée Aurora Reserve Blanc de Blancs Pas Dosé 2019
Cuvée Aurora Reserve 100 Months Pas Dosé 2013
A tasting dedicated to the identity of Alta Langa: a region where hills, time, and method shape sparkling wines with strong personality and great elegance.
The appointment is for the 11th of May, from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM, at Palazzo Brancaccio.
Montalcino, 29 April 2026 Banfi has been awarded the recognition Forbes Italian Excellence during an event promoted by Forbes and held during Vinitaly, at the pavilion of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty and Forests (MASAF).
The award celebrates the company's contribution to the dissemination and affirmation of Brunello di Montalcino on an international level, recognising a constant commitment to quality, innovation and promotion.
Banfi shared this recognition with a select group of iconic producers from the Italian wine scene. The candidates were selected by Cristina Mercuri, the first Italian woman Master of Wine and a consultant for Forbes.
“We are deeply honoured to receive this recognition,” stated President Rodolfo Maralli. “This award is a testament to our decades-long commitment, passion, and investment in quality, innovation, and international promotion. Our mission has always been to elevate Brunello di Montalcino on the world stage while remaining true to its cultural heritage.”.
The award further strengthens Banfi's role as a global ambassador for Italian winemaking excellence and its leadership in promoting Brunello di Montalcino worldwide.
On the occasion of World Earth Day, Banfi announces the publication of its Sustainability Report 2025, a testament to the company's concrete commitment to a responsible development model, capable of generating long-term value for the business and for all stakeholders.
The new edition of the Financial Statement, the eleventh, is born into a global context characterised by strong geopolitical tensions, economic instability and profound social transformations. In such a complex and ever-evolving scenario, Banfi reiterates the importance of a solid and far-sighted strategic vision, fundamental for ensuring resilience, continuity and adaptability.
Following a 2024 marked by a significant redefinition of corporate governance, 2025 represented a year of transition and consolidation for Banfi. The company worked on settling the new organisational structures, redefining key roles and developing the new Strategic business plan, projected towards 2030: a drive towards the future rooted in the brand's founding values and the distinctive integration of wine and hospitality.
In 2025, Banfi also strengthened the commitment ESG, continuing the certification Equalitas, with the reconfirmation of Brunello and the inclusion of Brunello di Montalcino Castello Banfi 2021.
The new edition of the Sustainability Report features a renewed structure, clearer and aligned with the strategic sustainability plan, in which, in addition to reporting the results, the sector's future challenges are outlined, including market volatility, new consumption patterns, and climate change.
"Banfi strengthens its positioning with a long-term strategy based on identity and sustainability, focusing on the balance between tradition and innovation to face future challenges and looking with confidence to the evolution of the sector, reaffirming the value of wine as an expression of the territory and a product capable of renewing itself over time.”, declares Cristina Mariani-May, CEO and owner of Banfi.
The 2025 Sustainability Report, like previous editions, has undergone the activity of limited assurance according to the standard ISAE 3000 Revised. The review, entrusted to PricewaterhouseCoopers Business Services Srl, a leading company operating in the business consulting sector, certifies the adherence of the document's content to the guidelines adopted for its drafting.
The 2025 Sustainability Report is available on the Banfi website., here.
La Pettegola Limited Edition 2025, signed by Elisa Seitzinger, has won an award at the European Product Design Awards. An international award that celebrates excellence in product design and highlights the ability to combine identity, creativity and vision.
For this edition, La Pettegola is transformed into an illustrated tale with strong symbolic impact: female figures, mythological references, intense colours, and graphic details build an imagery that combines elegance, irony, and contemporaneity. The result is packaging that goes beyond the label and becomes a narrative object, capable of expressing character, personality and uniqueness.
Year after year, each Limited Edition is born from a dialogue with a different artist, with the aim of reinterpreting the product's identity without altering its nature. A delicate balance between consistency and innovation that, over time, has made La Pettegola Limited Edition a recognisable event in the dialogue between wine and artistic illustration. The award recognises not only the aesthetics of the project, but also Banfi's distinctive viewpoint: interpreting wine as an encounter, a story, and a shared experience.
We are pleased to share the extensive interview that Emily Price (Forbes) dedicated to Cristina Mariani-May, CEO and President of Banfi, a story that addresses the most topical issues for the future of Brunello di Montalcino: climate change, the evolution of wine style, scientific research, sustainability and the value of terroir.
In the interview, Cristina offers a sincere and direct view of the work we do every day, highlighting our company's commitment to preserving the authenticity, elegance and identity of Sangiovese.
There is no longer a typical grape harvest
Cristina describes the last ten years as a period in which predictability has disappeared, taking the 2024 grape harvest as an example:
"It was one of the most surprising vintages ever. A cool and rainy June, a summer so hot that it slowed down photosynthesis, and then an unusually cold and unstable September. Today there is no such thing as a typical vintage."
Faced with these conditions, our work in the vineyard is based on a micro-viticultural approach, which Cristina explains as follows:
"We manage each plot, and sometimes each individual row, according to its characteristics. With 29 soil types and more than 100 microclimates, precision is everything. This allows us to maintain healthy grapes, ripe tannins and a balanced alcohol profile, even in complex vintages."
Wood and Sangiovese: a philosophy of balance
Cristina clarifies our approach to ageing Brunello:
"Wood must accompany, not cover. After decades of comparative tastings, we still prefer large barrels: they preserve the identity of Sangiovese and respect the character of Montalcino."
He adds:
"For us, wood is the home where Brunello rests and becomes gentler and more elegant. But it must never become an ingredient."
Wood and Sangiovese: a philosophy of balance
Cristina clarifies our approach to ageing Brunello:
"Wood must accompany, not cover. After decades of comparative tastings, we still prefer large barrels: they preserve the identity of Sangiovese and respect the character of Montalcino."
He adds:
"For us, wood is the home where Brunello rests and becomes gentler and more elegant. But it must never become an ingredient."
Elegance as a future direction
Cristina notes that the contemporary sensibility towards fresher, more balanced wines represents a return to the original style of Brunello:
"Today, elegance and authenticity are finally recognised as values. For us, this is not a trend: it is the confirmation of our philosophy."
It also mentions the cultural contribution of the project Sanguis Jovisthe first study centre dedicated exclusively to Sangiovese.
A terroir that tells millions of years of history
One of the most evocative moments of the interview concerns the discovery of the fossil whale 'Brunella'found in 2007 near the Castle of Poggio alle Mura.
Cristina recounts:
"That discovery changed the way we look at soils forever. Montalcino is literally rich in Pliocene marine fossils: shells, microfossils, sediments. It is an ancient past that continues to speak in our vineyards."
Adapting to preserve Brunello
Looking ahead to the coming years, Cristina explains how we deal with climate change:
"We are rethinking planting density, canopy management and the use of cooler soils. Our aim is to maintain consistency and identity, adapting to the variability of the climate without distorting Brunello."
Our estate, with 2,900 hectares between vineyards, olive groves, arable land and natural areas, plays a key role in protecting biodiversity.
Welcoming the world to Montalcino
Finally, Cristina recalls the value of hospitality:
"Every year we welcome around 40,000 visitors. Through tastings, the Enoteca, Il Borgo and our Sala dei Grappoli, awarded a Michelin Star for the sixth year running, we tell our story to people from all over the world."
Our vision
The interview highlights the essence of our work: preserving the Brunello tradition through research, sustainability, culture and territorial awareness.
A vision that continues to guide our every choice, today and in the future.
