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

29 August 2012 - Concha y Toro's fine wines are called upon to represent Chile at the opening event of the 13th edition of the International Architecture Exhibition, to be held in Venice from 29 August to 25 November 2012

The fine wines of Concha y Toro are invited to represent Chile at the opening event of the 13th edition of the International Architecture Exhibition, which will take place in Venice from 29 August to 25 November 2012. The guests present will be able to toast with two of the most representative wines of the Casillero del Diablo line, produced by Concha y Toro: the Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.

The 2012 edition of the Exhibition, titled Common Ground, directed by David Chipperfield and organised by la Biennale di Venezia, includes a single exhibition itinerary, from the Central Pavilion to the Giardini to the Arsenale. For the occasion, 66 projects by architects, photographers, artists, critics and scholars from all over the world will be presented. Present for Chile is Alejandro Aravena, with the project Elemental. 

VIÑA CONCHA Y TORO

Concha y Toro is the symbol of Chilean wine in the world. Latin America's leading wine exporter, Concha y Toro is present in 135 countries: a 'global' company, where tradition and innovation meet to offer excellent wines. In 2011, Concha y Toro received an important recognition from one of the leading British wine magazines: it was awarded the title 'Most Admired Wine Brand', surpassing other big names in world oenology, such as Antinori and Chateau Lafite. 2011 was a defining year, with increased penetration in key markets, an expansion of the product portfolio and a record profit of USD 50,482 million. Viña Concha y Toro is exclusively distributed in Italy by Banfi Distribuzione s.r.l..

CASILLERO DEL DIABLO: THE LEGEND

The legend of the 'devil's cellar' began more than 100 years ago, when Don Melchor de Concha y Toro, the founder of the winery, started buying some of the most famous wines in the world. In order to avoid being a victim of theft by his employees, Don Melchor spreads the rumour that the devil inhabits the cellar where he keeps his prestigious wines. From that moment on, the winery takes the name 'Casillero del Diablo'. Today, Casillero del Diablo is a selection of fresh, ready-to-drink monovarietals, which, thanks to several months of ageing in wood, also offer a fair degree of complexity. These wines are perfect for consumption outside meals as well as in combination with Italian dishes. Thanks to a wide and careful selection, Casillero del Diablo gives us the opportunity to discover the true essence of the Chilean valleys and the expression of the most typical and emblematic vines of that land, such as Cabernet Sauvignon or Carménère, extinct in Europe due to phyllossera and surviving only in faraway Chile. These wines have received many important awards from the world's most prestigious wine publications.

A NEW DEVIL FOR MANCHESTER UNITED

In 2010, the alliance between the British team Manchester United and Concha y Toro resulted in Casillero del Diablo becoming the wine of the club led by Sir Alex Ferguson. For Concha y Toro, this agreement represented a great opportunity, as Manchester is a team that inspires admiration worldwide. Moreover, the shared values and history of both institutions made the partnership even closer and more beneficial.

LIGHTER BOTTLES FOR CASILLERO DEL DIABLO

Casillero del Diablo has demonstrated its commitment to the environment by reducing the glass used for its bottles, without making any visible changes to the packaging. The initiative aims to reduce over 2,000 tonnes of glass per year; this also corresponds to less energy consumed in the production processes of the Casillero del Diablo line. In its commitment to the environment, Concha y Toro also measures its 'ecological footprint' with respect to water consumption, which was found to be 40% less than that estimated for a company of its same level.

BANFI CASTLE

Immersed in the extraordinary terroir of Montalcino, and always devoted to the pursuit of quality, it produces wines all characterised by a soul deeply rooted in this unique and extraordinary territory. A reference point 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. Situated on the south-west side of the commune of Montalcino, the estate occupies 2,830 hectares, of which approximately 800 are planted with specialised vineyards, while the rest of the property is occupied by woods, olive groves, and other crops.

Next 5 July, on the occasion of the second edition of the music festival inspired by the French Grands Crus Musicaux, Castello Banfi will host a concert by Russian Maestro Alexander Kniazev.

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

Melody of Wine 2012

On 5 July, on the occasion of the fifth and penultimate stage of the Festival, in the evocative setting of the walls of Castello Banfi in Montalcino, the notes of Alexander Knaziev, the international star of this second edition of the Festival, will resound in the Cello Recital. Considered by critics to be the heir of Mstislav Rostropovich, the Russian Maestro began studying the cello at an early age, under the guidance of Alexander Fedorchenko. Awarded in the most prestigious competitions such as the Moscow Tchaikovsky and Vilnius, he has the opportunity to play with the most important artists of international renown. During his career, he has received many critical awards, especially for the disc dedicated to Max Reger and the one dedicated to Ernest Bloch's 'Schelomo'. Besides playing with some of the most famous conductors (Temirkanov, Rostropovich, Bashmet), he has collaborated with numerous European orchestras, including the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, the St. Petersburg Philharmonic, the Orchestre National de France and the Prague Philharmonic Orchestra.

The programme

During the evening, participants will have the opportunity to taste two prestigious labels from Banfi's wide range of wines: the San Angelo Pinot Grigio 2011 and the Belnero 2009.

Peugeot, one of the main sponsors of the event, will be present at Castello Banfi with two of its new models, the 3008 HYbrid4 and the 508 RXH, two cars that, thanks to their extremely environmentally friendly technical excellence, are perfectly in line with Melody of Wine.

"Collaborating on this second edition of the Melodia del Vino Festival," says Cristina Mariani-May, "seemed natural to us, especially after the excellent public and critical acclaim obtained in the first edition. Maestro Marc Laforet and Michel Gotlib, the creators of the project, thought of merging the harmony of all the senses, from classical music to the excellence of the wines of a prestigious territory like Tuscany, into a single, extraordinary experience."

Castello Banfi, immersed 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 MontalcinoThe estate covers 2,830 hectares, of which approximately 800 are planted with specialised vineyards, while the rest of the property is occupied by woods, olive groves, and other crops.

Festival Mission

Melodia del Vino will take place from 26 June to 7 July 2012. The Festival, which is modelled on its French twin "Grands Crus Musicaux", proposes itself as an "ideal bridge" between the excellence of Tuscany and France; this is why the Region of Tuscany has decided to adhere to and support the initiative since its first edition in the summer of 2011. The creators of the highly original format are Maestro Marc Laforet, artistic director of both events, and Michel Gotlib, a childhood friend of Maestro Laforet, wine and music enthusiast and president of the MelodiadelVino Festival. Melodiadelvino is an event that has chosen to promote itself thanks to the Internet. Fondazione Sistema Toscana, which is already in charge of the online promotion of Tuscany on behalf of the Region of Tuscany, manages the event's official website www.melodiadelvino.it and will take care of its social campaign.

This summer in London, the world's greatest athletes will have a place where they can relax and feel at home: it is the Nike VIP House.

Nike for the second time, after Beijing, confirmed the eclectic Italian chef Nicola Batavia and the cuisine made in Italy.

Talking to him, a very strong emotion for everything related to food, wine and everything that revolves around it shines through. "Casa Nike is an enchanted place where gold medallists from every discipline and speciality meet. But it is also the place where these great personalities can relax and breathe, it is an amalgamation of cultures, colours, languages, a world that arouses strong emotions," says the Chef. "Being there is a privilege, and a stimulus for my passion: cooking. "A cuisine steeped in Italian flavours and fragrances that with its simplicity has won over these great sportsmen and women.

It is precisely with Italian traditions and typicality in mind that Nicola Batavia will cook for athletes and guests, once again making Made in Italy the flag symbol of quality, health and well-being in sport but also in everyday life.

Castello Banfi wines with Nicola Batavia in London

Alongside the excellence of its cuisine, it could not miss the excellence of Made in Italy wine, an inseparable pair in the Italian tradition. Hence the collaboration with Castello Banfi which, for this important occasion, will present a selection of its prized labels.

These include wines that best express the Chinese terroir and are the symbol of Castello Banfi in the world, from the Rosso di Montalcino DOC 2010from Brunello di Montalcino 2007 to the precious Florus Moscadello di Montalcino 2010 Vendemmia Tardiva, and these are joined by one of Banfi's iconic wines in Piedmont, the Brachetto d'Acqui Rosa Regale.

Castello Banfi, immersed in the extraordinary terroir of Montalcino, 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 planted with specialised vineyards, while the rest of the property is occupied by woods, olive groves and other crops.

Scott Hamilton, Reggie Washington, Tom Harrell, Kurt Elling, Nick the Nightfly and many other big names to celebrate jazz and great wine.

The fifteenth edition of Jazz&Wine in Montalcino, one of the longest-running events on the Italian music scene, the result of the collaboration between Castello Banfi, the well-known Montalcino winery, the cultural association Jazz&Image of Rome and the Municipality of Montalcino, will once again feature a programme of the highest level, with Italian and international artists of unquestionable fame.

Jazz & Wine in Montalcino 2012: the programme

The festival will open on Tuesday 17 July, as usual, within the historic walls of Castello Banfi with the quintet of the great sax-tenor Scott Hamilton. From Wednesday 18 July, the festival will move to the splendid 14th-century fortress of Montalcino with Nicola Stilo Sextet, the Roman flutist who, among his many national and international appearances, also counts the prestigious ongoing collaboration he had with Chet Baker in the 1980s. On Thursday 19 July, the festival features Tom Harrell Quintet. Described by Newsweek as one of the purest and most creative living musicians and composers, this year Tom Harrel won Downbeat International's Grammy Award for best solo trumpet.

It will continue on Friday 20 July with a legend of contemporary jazz, Reggie Washington, who will be at Jazz&Wine in one of the few Italian stops on the tour that sees him present his second CD, Freedom. Saturday 21 July will then be the turn of the historic voice of the programme Montecarlo Nights: Nick the Nightfly, for the first time in Montalcino with his quintet to present Nice One. To worthily close this 15th edition of the festival, on Sunday 22 July, the voice of Kurt Elling accompanied by Charlie Hunter's guitar.

For the 15th 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.

2012 edition: what's new

In the 2012 edition, however, there is also a great novelty: the twinning project involving some of the longest-running Jazz&Wine festivals in Italy. In addition to Jazz&Wine in Montalcino, the following are joining this interesting initiative: Zola Jazz&Wine (Zola Predosa, 25 May-26 June 2012) and Jazz&Wine of Peace (Cormòns, 25-28 October 2012). This is a unique opportunity for comparison with territorial and production realities that differ from each other but share the same passion for great Jazz.

(Montalcino, 22 May 2012) - Montalcino's roads, made legendary in the 1980s by the World Rally Championship, will once again be the protagonists of the Tuscan Rewindthe attractive dirt track race for historic cars, now in its third year.

Castello Banfi official sponsor of Tuscan Rewind 2012

The race, whose protagonists will include some of the greatest rally champions of yesterday and today, will be flanked by a number of initiatives linked to special anniversaries. Among these is the parade reserved for the 25th anniversary celebration of the 'queen' Lancia Delta, in which all Delta owners will be able to parade, as well as some of the champions who have made it legendary in rallies.

Castello Banfi, which has been following Tuscan Rewind since the first edition, this year, in addition to the Trophy - with the estate's great wines as prizes - is offering the winner of the Historic category a weekend stay in the splendid Banfi Castle-Il Borgo.