"Before you even glimpse the walls of Borgo Banfi, you are greeted by its vineyards that occupy the southern slopes of the Montalcino hills. Following the vineyards, dare we say it, you are taken to the gates of the Borgo. A luxurious hotel nestled in 17th and 18th century stone buildings, in the shadow of a medieval fortress, the Borgo Banfi is practically an ecosystem in itself in the middle of the Tuscan countryside. Aimed primarily at a foreign clientele, who find there the elements of Tuscany, the intimate hotel features luxurious amenities combined with a focus on the region's traditions, especially its food and wine..."

Next 2 July, on the occasion of the third edition of the music festival inspired by the French Grands Cru Musicaux, Castello Banfi will host a concert by the cellist Henri Demarquette together with the pianist Marc Laforet.

After the great success of the first two editions, the Melodia del Vino Festival returns, a real journey through Tuscan wine excellence, together with the magic of international classical music.

On 2 Julyon the occasion of the third stage of the festival, in the evocative setting of the walls of Castello Banfi in Montalcino, the notes of Marc Laforet and the cellist Henri Demarquette. Soul and creator of the Festival, the pianist Marc Laforet he arrived on the musical scene at a very young age. He has received many awards, among them the First Prize at the National Conservatory of Music in Paris, the Gold Medal of the Czitfrra Foundation and the " New York Young Artist Award " in 1985. Marc Laforet also won the Silver Medal of the International Frederic Chopin Award in Warsaw in 1985.

The cellist Henri DemarquetteAfter studying at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique de Paris, he worked with French cellists Pierre Fournier and Paul Tortelier. Fundamental to his training was his meeting with cellist Janos Starker and with Yehudi Menuhin, an American violinist and conductor who invited Demarquette to play under his direction in Prague and Paris. Finally, a curiosity: the French musician plays an all-Italian cello, made by Italian craftsman Goffredo Cappa.

Guests can enter from 6.30 p.m., and at 7 p.m. a tasting of two prestigious labels from Banfi's wide range of wines will be offered: La Gossip Vermentino, vintage 2012, and the Belnero 2010. The concert will start at 8.30 p.m.

"Considering that the first two editions were exceptionally well received by the public and critics, it seemed natural to us to continue our collaboration with the Melodia del Vino Festival,' says Cristina Mariani-May. Maestro Marc Laforet, whom we will have the honour of hosting at the piano for the concert at Castello Banfi this year, was the creator of the Festival project together with Michel Gotlib. And their 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, year after year, is proving more and more successful."

Castello Banfiimmersed in this extraordinary terroir and always devoted to the pursuit of quality, produces wines all characterised by a soul deeply rooted in this unique and extraordinary territory. A point of reference for the production of Brunello di Montalcino, Castello Banfi was established in 1978 by the Mariani family, who decided to develop a centre of excellence in Montalcino for the production of quality wines, indissolubly linking Banfi to this territory and its development. Located on the south-west side of the municipality of Montalcino, the estate occupies 2,830 hectares, of which approximately 800 are cultivated with specialised vineyards, while the rest of the property is occupied by woods, olive groves and other crops.

Representing a first approach to the legendary Bolgheri territory, Banfi's new, elegant label, officially presented at the last Vinitaly.

With this new label, Aska, Banfi arrives in Bolgheri: a legendary territory, known throughout the world for its fine wines, and a fast-growing appellation. The acquisition of a 5-hectare vineyard in this land represents a new and exciting project for Banfi, absolutely complementary to that of Montalcino, based on the same production philosophy of high quality wines.

Aska, the Bolgheri Rosso DOC signed Banfi

A wine that tells the origins of a legend: Aska, in fact, means container in Etruscan. The ancient and fascinating people who inhabited the Tuscan lands used it as a container to contain wine and oil, to collect perfumes and nectars. But it was also a treasure chest, which served to protect the human emotions and feelings that men received from Cautha and Semla, the Etruscan gods of sun and moon, represented by two luminous spheres that mark the passing of time with day and night. And on Aska's elegant label we find all the symbols of this legend.

After careful selection, the Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc grapes are vinified with traditional fermentation and maceration in steel vats. This is followed by ageing in barriques for about 10 months, and suitable bottle ageing.

The tasting tells us of a Bolgheri Rosso DOC very intense, soft, ruby red colour with violet hues, with elegant aromas of toasted wood, coffee, spices and red fruits. In the mouth it has a good, harmonious structure with a slight vein of acidity, which makes it fresh and balanced. A perfect accompaniment to game dishes, it goes well with hard, medium and long matured cheeses.

"We are extremely satisfied to be working in Bolgheri," comments Banfi's managing director, Enrico Viglierchio, "where we arrive with our utmost respect for all those who work there and who have preceded us. We considered it fundamental to acquire a vineyard on which we could work, bringing with us all the experience gained in Montalcino'.

The fourth edition of the Tuscan Rewind, the evocative gravel race for historic cars, is scheduled from 10 to 12 May.

The most important new feature of Tuscan Rewind 2013 is the late afternoon start on Friday 10 May, when the 'Castello Banfi' special will be run near the historic castle of Poggio alle Mura.

The race will feature some of the greatest Italian and international rally stars of all time.

Castello Banfi official sponsor of the 4th edition of Tuscan Rewind

Once again this year, Castello Banfi, which has been following Tuscan Rewind since the first edition, is offering a weekend stay in the splendid Castello Banfi-Il Borgo as a prize for the winner of the Historic category.

Officially presented at Vinitaly 2013, Banfi's new Vermentino immediately received unanimous praise. An innovative packaging, essential but original, and an amiable and pleasant wine, suitable for informal occasions and perfect for the coming summer season. 



There is much excitement at Banfi for the realisation of this new project, which marks the beginning of a new and important journey towards new and exciting adventures in hitherto unexplored territories. A Vermentino that expresses the winning combination of tradition and innovation that has always driven Banfi's experience in the world of Tuscan wine.

To produce La Pettegola Vermentino, the best grapes were selected from vineyards on the Tuscan coast, and the grapes were then very lightly pressed and fermented in steel to keep all the aromas intact.

Tasting notes tell of a Vermentino with a pronounced aromatic expression, rich and delicate, with fruity aromas in which apricot and grapefruit are recognisable, as well as flowers and spices typical of the Mediterranean maquis. In the mouth, it is surprising for its fullness, enlivened by a marked acidity, which gives it a pleasant freshness. Excellent as an aperitif, it can be served with tasty fish dishes, especially shellfish, as well as with vegetable-based first courses. Serve at a temperature of 8-10°C.

"Our desire is to offer an amiable and pleasant Vermentino," comments Banfi oenologist Rudy Buratti, "that will appeal to all winelovers, from the most experienced to the youngest. La Pettegola, with its innovative and essential packaging, is dedicated exclusively to the traditional channel, and is ideal for the many informal occasions that will arise during the summer season".

www.facebook.com/lapettegolabanfi

Banfi bubbles, known worldwide for the high quality of its wines, on the podium with the Superstarsworld champions.

BANFI, with its sparkling wines, is the new official partner of SUPERSTARSWORLD for the 2013 season. A very important collaboration for one of the best-known Italian wineries in the world, and leader in the production of Brunello di Montalcino.

The BANFI winery, which has recently completed the restyling of all its Piedmontese labels, with the BANFI BRUT will be on the podium of the SUPERSTARS INTERNATIONAL SERIES and the GTSPRINT INTERNATIONAL SERIES as early as the opening race of the championship, next 7 April at the historic Monza circuit. In their respective fields, two excellences that share the same philosophy and have achieved worldwide recognition.

"We are very pleased with this partnership," says Rodolfo Maralli, Sales & Marketing Director Banfi. "Ours is a brand of great prestige, which for the first time is approaching the world of motor sport with one of our historic labels, BANFI BRUT.

We are confident that the collaboration with SUPERSTARSWORLD will ensure a mutual enhancement of our brands on an international level, bringing the effervescence of Italian bubbles to the SUPERSTARS INTERNATIONAL SERIES circuits to reward the drivers who will compete on the track".

Travel Notes.

On Castello Banfi Christmas packaging catalogue 2012 is an unforgettable journey through the world's most prestigious wineries. A journey that ranges from the finest labels of Montalcino and Tuscany, to the best traditions of Piedmont and Sicily, to France with the Champagne and then to Chile, to infinitely multiply the pleasure and joy of the coming festivities. A veritable kaleidoscope of colours, all gathered in caskets of rare elegance and high prestige.

On Novello Santa Costanza was first produced in 1982, and since then it has been the wine that ideally opens each new Banfi vintage.

Among the numerous Novelli wines, not only from Tuscany, it is the most widespread and the most appreciated for its quality. A dynamic, fresh wine with a lively colour and fruity taste, which captures in an elegant blend the delicate fragrances of SangioveseGamay and Syrah.

With the 2006 vintage, we were the first in Italy to introduce the 'Stelvin' cap on this young and fresh wine, a modern and ideal closure to best enhance its characteristic liveliness and fruity aroma.

Novello Santa Costanza returns on 30 October

The rite of dèblocage, i.e. the ceremony of opening the bottles at midnight on 6 November, represented a kind of baptism that began the marketing of the product.

This year, for the first time, it will be possible to find it a week in advance, as early as 30 October.

The harvest of the white varieties, which began on 22 August with Chardonnay and continued with Pinot Grigio and Sauvignon Blanc, has now been completed.

The harvest of these grapes, which due to the high temperatures was only carried out in the morning from 6 a.m. to 1 p.m., was of good quality, with a decrease in the quantity produced of around 25% compared to 2011, a decrease that was mainly due to the drought and the heat of the summer months.

This week we started with the more precocious red varieties (Syrah & Merlot), and from the first grapes harvested we can already assume, even in this case, a drop in quantity while maintaining good quality.

For Sangiovese, the harvest is just a few days away. The climatic trend of the last few weeks is proving to be extremely important for a good polyphenolic ripening, thanks above all to the excellent day/night temperature range and the light rainfall, which have re-established the balance, creating the best conditions for the most important phase of Sangiovese ripening.

Once again, in 2012, theTaverna di Castello Banfi receives Certificate of Excellence from Wine Spectator magazine.

The prize for the best wine list is awarded to those restaurants that present appealing wine selections that go well with their cuisine and therefore capture the attention of wine lovers and enthusiasts.

Wine Spectator's Certificate of Excellence

To qualify for the award, the wine list must provide complete and accurate information, including all vintages and appellations, even for wines offered by the glass. In addition to this, great consideration is given to the presentation of the list, while the presence of the producer's name and correct spelling are fundamental requirements.

Wine Spectator, considered one of the most authoritative international wine magazines, recognises this award of excellence to less than 3,000 restaurants worldwide. The Taverna Banfi offers its services to both visitors passing through and guests of Castello Banfi - Il Borgo, the hotel structure adjacent to the castle that offers 14 luxurious rooms and suites. For information and reservations contact: reservation@banfi.it