With its 17th edition, the festival Jazz & Wine in Montalcino 2014 (15 - 20 July) is confirmed as rNoriginated from the collaboration between Banfi, the well-known Montalcino winery, the cultural association Jazz&Image of Rome and the Municipality of Montalcino, the festival offers once again this year a programme of the highest level, with Italian and international artists of undisputed world renown

Jazz & Wine in Montalcino 2014

As is now customary, the opening concert - on Tuesday 15 July - will be held within the historic walls of Castello Banfi, with a performance by the Deidda Brothers plus A. Ariano and P. Bisogno. From 16 July, the festival will move to the 14th-century Montalcino Fortress with the "In JAZZ" project, an original musical tribute to the great Lucio Battisti.

It continues on Thursday 17 July with a stellar trio: Danilo Perez on piano, John Patitucci on bass, and Brian Blade on drums. The three extraordinary musicians, known worldwide also for their decade-long collaboration with the legendary Wayne Shorter, present 'Children Of The Light': a magical and portentous mix of Latin sounds and jazz.

Taking the stage at Jazz & Wine on Friday 18 July is another incredible trio, The Bad Plus. Their music combines elements of avant-garde jazz with pop and rock influences while eluding all genre classifications, in the endless exploration of possibilities by three highly talented musicians playing in perfect harmony.

On Saturday 19 July it is the turn of Herbie Goins & Mauro Zazzarini Blues Inn. The internationally renowned soul-blues singer and one of the best jazz-blues saxophonists from Italy and beyond form an unprecedented duo for a concert that ranges from blues to funky to jazz.

Closing the event

Closing this extraordinary edition of the festival on Sunday 20 July will be Incognito. For thirty years on the crest of a wave, the band has always been home to excellent musicians who, in alternating phases and at different times, have participated in the group's adventure. But its leader, Mauritian Jean-Paul 'Bluey' Maunick, founder and guiding spirit, has remained steadfastly loyal to his creature. For the 17th consecutive year, two such intimate and intense pleasures, jazz music and great quality wine, are celebrating their exciting encounter in the symbolic town of Brunello, Montalcino, with increasing success.

Also confirmed is the twinning between the Jazz & Wine festival in Montalcino, Jazz&Wine of Peace Festival in Cormòns and Zola Jazz & Wine, which has been joined by Vino & Jazz Marche as of this year. Tuscany, therefore, Friuli Venezia Giulia, Emilia and Marche, united under the banner of quality music and good wine. An unmissable comparison, with territorial and productive realities that differ from each other, but are united by the same passion for great jazz.

Melody of Wine 2014: the festival dedicated to Tuscan wine excellence, combined with concerts by top international classical music artists, will take place from 26 June to 6 July.

On 1 July, the notes of François -Joel Thiollier's piano will resound in the evocative setting of the walls of Castello Banfia Montalcino during the third stage of the festival.

François-Joel Thiollier is one of today's most accomplished pianists and musicians. Franco-American by birth, he has assimilated the best of several cultures; born in Paris, he gave his first concert in New York at the age of 5. His vast repertoire, exceptional musical culture and mastery of the keyboard are the key to his international success. Thiollier now plays in more than 40 countries with the most prestigious orchestras, including the Moscow and Leningrad Philharmonic Orchestras and the London Symphony Orchestra.

Melody of Wine 2014

"We are delighted to host the Melodia del Vino Festival for the fourth consecutive year," says Cristina Mariani-May. The idea of fusing the harmony of all the senses, from classical music to the excellence of the wines of a prestigious territory such as Tuscany, into a single, extraordinary experience is proving to be increasingly convincing. And, on the other hand, we are not new to this type of initiative. In fact, from 15 to 20 July the seventeenth edition of Jazz & Wine in Montalcino will take place, the first jazz festival born in Italy to celebrate the encounter between great jazz music and quality wine'.

Guests will be able to enter Castello Banfi from 6.30 p.m. onwards. The concert will be preceded (7.00 pm) by an aperitif with a tasting of two prestigious labels selected by Banfi: La Pettegola Vermentino 2013 and Cum Laude 2011. The concert will start at 8.30 p.m.

Banfi, historical background

Banfi was founded in 1978 by the Italian-American brothers John and Harry Mariani. Right from the start, the two brothers envisaged a large-scale project, integrating quality wine production with a modern winery with the aim of always maintaining the high quality level of the wines produced.

Situated on the south-west side of the commune of Montalcino, the estate occupies 2,830 hectares, of which over 800 are planted with specialised vineyards, while the rest of the property is occupied by woods, olive groves, and other crops.
In those same years, the Mariani brothers also took over the historic Piedmontese wine house Bruzzone, active since 1860 and specialised in the production of sparkling wines, to make it the group's Piedmontese brand, today Banfi Piemonte.

Banfi has recently expanded into other Tuscan territories, from Chianti Classico with the management of 40 ha. of vineyards, to Bolgheri, where a small vineyard was purchased in 2013.

The quest for quality, which has always been an essential principle of Banfi's experience, also passes through the use of irrigation in the vineyard. Experts and university professors will speak during the seminar, testifying to how water can be considered the greatest limiting factor and how the experience, born at Banfi, can be used by other wineries.

The seminar, to be held on 16 May in Castello Banfi (Castello di Poggio alle Mura, 53024 Montalcino, Siena, tel. 0577 840111), will be attended by eminent university professors and experts who have always collaborated on research carried out by the Ilcinese company.

The conference will be opened by Banfi Italia's General Manager, Dr. Enrico Viglierchio, who will take the opportunity to greet participants and briefly introduce the company.

Variable rate localised irrigation in the vineyard

The first technical talk will be that of Dr. Francesco Lizio Bruno, Geologist, who will illustrate to the audience the geological, as well as pedological, variability of the soils that make up hillside vineyards. It will then be the turn of Prof. Sergio Miele, Full Professor of Agronomy, who, linking up with Dr. Lizio's presentation on soil variety, will expand on the subject, extending it to climatic variability, and talk about how these factors determine the need for irrigation.

This will be followed by the contribution of Prof. Attilio Scienza, Full Professor of Viticulture, who will present his research on rootstocks, and will analyse the need to use different graft combinations depending on the water availability of the soils on which the vineyards are planted.

We will continue with Dr. Luigi Bonato, Agronomist, whose speech will illustrate how, on the basis of analyses carried out on vineyards planted in uneven terrain, analyses carried out with different means ranging from Multiplex to satellite, it is possible to determine with extreme precision the vigour and, therefore, the need to intervene differently for each individual area.

The seminar was closed by Dr. Maurizio Marmugi, Agronomist Director of Banfi, who, linking up with Dr. Bonato, will present Banfi's practical experience with the use of variable rate in irrigation.

Banfi, in collaboration with Bibenda, is organising a day entirely dedicated to prestigious wines from Tuscany and Piedmont. An unmissable opportunity to taste a preview of some of the new vintages produced by the Montalcino winery, together with a selection of the fine labels distributed.

EVENT BY INVITATION ONLY!

19 March 2014 - 16.00/21.30 - Hotel Rome Cavalieri - Via A. Cadlolo, 101

A unique opportunity to taste a fine selection of Banfi wines: La Pettegola 2013, Fontanelle Chardonnay 2012, Aska 2012, Fonte alla Selva 2010, Belnero 2011, Rosso di Montalcino Poggio alle Mura 2012, Brunello di Montalcino Poggio alle Mura 2008.

Joanna Neavecompetition winner Travel Matters - with 2 nights at Castello Banfi as a prize, talks about her experience and how it inspired her cooking when she returned home.

Joanna Neave, competition winner Travel Matters

"The mornings in the cooking class with Samuele were extremely fun, and I am very happy to have learnt how to make fresh pasta. Everything we cooked in class was easy to recreate at home, and I am happy to say that it really was. We ate what we prepared, accompanied by the excellent Banfi wines, sitting outside (in the middle of October!).
We could not have enjoyed ourselves more. The staff at Castello Banfi were very kind and helpful, advising us on how to spend the next two days in Florence. It really is a good starting point for visiting a variety of interesting places in Tuscany, and I hope to return soon.
Anyone wishing to spend a relaxing holiday in beautiful surroundings should certainly plan a visit."

Last year, in June, Norwegian journalists were our guests at Castello Banfi - Il Borgo.
A number of articles came out following their visit to us, including this one published in the October/November issue of Maison Mat & Vin magazine.

The article, accompanied by many photos, is quite comprehensive in its description of all the activities carried out during their stay, including the cooking course we organise for our Il Borgo guests.
Too bad it is in Norwegian...

Discover more

After a rather rainy spring and early summer, September and October were very good weather-wise, with plenty of sunshine and excellent ventilation.

With the 2013 harvest, we have returned to the 'normality' of the 1980s and 1990s. The harvest, in fact, at Castello Banfi began about 15 days later than in recent years (4 September), with the more precocious white varieties, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc, as well as the Pinot Grigioand ended on 18 October with Cabernet Sauvignon, the last variety to be harvested. The harvest times for the Piedmontese estate also mirrored those in Tuscany.

Banfi and the 2013 harvest

In both Tuscany and Piedmont, the benevolent climatic conditions favoured a gradual and late ripening of the grapes, which presented themselves in excellent qualitative condition, with wonderfully intense varietal aromas and a good balance between alcohol content and highly developed acidity.

Precisely because of a vibrant acidity, which also gives length, the white wines are fresh and at the same time have a very rich and developed bouquet and an important structure.

"In our area, in the south-west of Montalcino,' declares General Manager Enrico Viglierchio, 'Especially for the later red varieties, such as Sangiovese for the production of Brunello di Montalcino, we expect wines of excellent quality, with a good predisposition to long ageing, and characterised by elegance and finesse. And this despite the fact that it was a more difficult vintage than others. As far as production is concerned, both in Tuscany and Piedmont, we recorded an increase of 6-10% compared to previous years'.

With a delay of about 15 days compared to recent years, and returning to the 'normality' of the harvests of the 1980s and 1990s, last week we started the harvest in both our Piedmont and Tuscany estates.

In Tuscany, we started on Wednesday 4 September with the harvest of Pinot Grigio for our San Angelo, and in these days we are harvesting Chardonnay and Vermentino. In Piedmont, on the other hand, we started on 2 September with Pinot Nero, the base for our Alta Langa, and we are now continuing with Chardonnay and Brachetto.

Harvest 2013

In both Tuscany and Piedmont, the grapes are in excellent condition. Thanks to the abundant winter and spring rains, a spring and early summer with moderate temperatures, and the perfect seasonal trend in September, with excellent day-night temperature swings, we are seeing good, high acidity and excellent development of varietal aromas. These same conditions are determining the excellent ripening of the red grapes, primarily Sangiovese, whose harvest will begin at the end of the month.

All the conditions are in place for an exceptional vintage!