He was the man behind the American success of Lambrusco and Brunello di Montalcino. Harry Mariani died in Huntington, New York. The news was given by Wine Spectator. He was 78 years old. With his brother John he was honorary president of Castello Banfi, the family estate in Tuscany.

It all started with a small company that imported wine and food for Italian Americans in New York. The two brothers' father opened it in 1919 in Greenwich Village. In 1964 Harry became the president, his brother the managing director. The former was account-conscious and calm. The second was extrovert and full of ideas. The two set out to find new markets. And they came across a partisan in Milan, Walter Sacchetti, senator and 'ambassador' of the Emilian co-ops in the world. It was 1967: Comrade Spartaco convinced John Mariani to take Lambrusco to America. It was a success: 11 million cases a year, thanks to the drive of Cantine Riunite, led by Sacchetti himself. The Americans wanted 'The Italian Coca Cola', as Harry called Lambrusco, making it easier, sweeter and more sparkling. In 1983 it became the first Italian wine consumed in the States. It even ended up in cans. Then the descent.

Harry, the man who launched Brunello in the USA

Harry and John, with their coffers full thanks to Lambrusco, landed in Montalcino in the mid 1970s. Becoming from importers to producers. At the time, only 300,000 bottles of Brunello were sold, and it was an unknown quantity to US consumers (the last vintage on the market, 2010, exceeded 9.2 million bottles). The Mariani's oenologist, Ezio Rivella, recounted in his book Io e Brunello (Baldini Castoldi Dalai) that the area where Castello Banfi was to be built was 'desolate'. Harry wanted large spaces and Rivella bought 'at derisory prices', 2,830 hectares, 850 of which were planted with Sangiovese and Moscadello, and Giovanni Mastropaolo's medieval castle.

The winery, opened with a Hollywood party, was capable of producing twice as much as all the other Montalcino winemakers put together. The initial hostility ('make sweet wine for the Americans') disappeared when the million bottles of Castello Banfi consecrated the launch of Brunello in the world. Now Montalcino has lost a piece of its 20th century history.

(Source: divini.corriere.it)

Harry Mariani, founder with his brother John of the Banfi winery in Montalcino, died on 5 January in Huntington (NY) at the age of 78. He was born in New York on 21 January 1937.

Farewell to Harry Mariani

In the Seventies and Eighties of the last century, the two brothers had the intuition to import Lambrusco from Cantine Riunite, which soon became a fixed presence on American tables, so much so that in 1983, with 11 million cases, it became the number one imported wine in the US. Thanks to this commercial success, Harry and John wanted to invest in Italy and entrusted themselves to Ezio Rivella who, in 1977, bought almost 2000 hectares in Montalcino, giving rise to an unrepeatable deal in terms of the amount of capital that Castello Banfi represents.

The new Italo-American company was ideally placed for the diffusion of Brunello, until then little known, in the US market. Success that was to come in the mid-1990s.

Harry has always been the mind behind all administrative, sales and marketing activities of the company, contributing to the transformation of Banfi Products Corp from a small family business in upstate New York to one of America's largest wine importing companies.

Mariani leaves behind his wife Anne, his daughters Ginny Kitt and Katy Goodrich, and his son James, who together with Cristina Mariani-May, John's daughter and Harry's granddaughter, runs Banfi.

(Source: Tre Bicchieri of 07-01-2016, edited by Andrea Gabbrielli)

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