Verona, April 2009 - On the occasion of the 43rd edition of Vinitaly, the Special Gran Vinitaly Award was awarded to Inniskillinthe prestigious Canadian manufacturer of Icewine which is exclusively distributed in Italy by Banfi.

Inniskillin wins special grand vinitaly award

The prize is awarded to the winery that has achieved the highest score in at least two different categories at the Vinitaly International Wine Competition. Awarded to Inniskillin is a gold medal for the Sparkling Vidal Icewine - Limited Edition 2006 (category other sweet sparkling wines) and for the Vidal Icewine 2007 (category still wines designated with a geographical indication - Natural sweet wines).

The award-winning winery was founded in 1975 by Donald Ziraldo, son of Italian emigrants, and Karl J. Kaiser, of Austrian origin. Today, it distinguishes itself in one of the most extreme, extraordinary and incredible types of wine in the wine world, icewine. A sweet wine, but not necessarily a dessert wine, whose production, in order to achieve maximum sugar concentration and extreme sweetness calibrated by excellent acidity, requires a specific meteorological characteristic, namely the presence of temperatures that remain eight to ten degrees below zero for a long time.

The purity, the freshness of the aromas, the varietal characteristics of the grapes used, the fragrances conferred by this very special concentration represented by the 'icing' of the grapes, are enhanced by vinification and ageing carried out exclusively in steel.

Banfi distributes three icewines from the extensive Inniskillin range exclusively for Italy: Cabernet Franc, the award-winning Vidal and Riesling.

April 2009, Chalon en Champagne - Joseph Perrier, distributed in Italy exclusively by Banfi, inaugurated its 'Oenotheque - A private wine cellar of the 20th century', a space entirely dedicated to the historical vintages of the prestigious French maison.

Joseph Perrier inaugurates his oenotheque

Next to the main entrance to the Joseph Perrier cellars, in a side room that serves as a gallery, you can admire some of the company's historical bottles. In a niche carefully carved out of the natural rock, bottles and magnums of the best vintages, from 1949 to 1999, rest.

Stored 'sur point', still on their lees, these historic bottles are waiting to be disgorged for very special occasions; all under the watchful eye of Paul Pithois, grandfather of current owner and General Manager Jean-Claude Fourmon.

The Champagne line of the maison now includes 6 labels, all distributed in Italy by Banfi: Cuveé Royale Brut, Cuveé Royale Brut Rosé, Cuveé Royale Demi-sec, Cuveé Royale Millésimée, Cuveé Royale Blanc de Blancs, and the exclusive Cuveé Josephine. Prestigious wines that, we remind you, will be available for tasting at Vinexpo, the highly prestigious French international fair that will take place in Bordeaux from 21 to 25 June.

12 March 2009 - Rome. Great public success for the Banfi Daythe event organised by Banfi in collaboration with the AIS at the Hotel Rome Cavalieri.

Rome: Banfi day, a great success!

The day, which opened the doors of the Tasting Stands at 4.30 p.m., gave the numerous visitors the opportunity to taste all the labels of Banfi, Vigne Regali and the distributed brands, from Inniskillin to Champagne to the Chilean Concha y Toro and Punta Nogal.

A truly unique tasting experience for the more than 600 guests, who had the opportunity to appreciate the best of Castello Banfi's tradition, together with the most recent and innovative labels.

The undisputed star of the event was our Brunello di Montalcino 'Poggio alle Mura'. In fact, for the first time, the numerous participants had the opportunity to taste this extraordinary wine in a vertical tasting that retraced its evolution, starting from its debut year, 1997, up to the latest vintage, 2004, passing through 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001 and 2003.

Seven vintages that gave the speakers - Enrico Viglierchio & Rudy Buratti for Banfi and Paolo Lauciani for AIS - the opportunity to explain to the large audience the studies carried out, the projects, the philosophy of Banfi.

Montalcino, 28 January 2009 - Castello Banfi, in its tireless search for a balance between many years of experience and a constant vocation for the new, presents its latest project, the 'Centine Style'.

The historic label of the Hundreds Banfi becomes, in fact, a complete range that includes, in addition to the classic Rosso and the elegant Rosè, a fresh and balanced Bianco, the latest addition. Respect for tradition and the exaltation of the typicality of a territory, combined with innovative production techniques, thus become a philosophy, a style, which is transformed and highlighted in the classic and contemporary look, at the same time, sported by the new proposal.

Hundreds style! Banfi's historic label 'triples'.

Three wines, three different interpretations, three versatile and typically Tuscan products, deeply rooted in the Montalcino terroir and an expression of the unmistakable Banfi 'style'.

On Centine Rosso is a fruity, young wine with a good structure, where Sangiovese, the emblematic grape variety of Tuscan tradition, is combined with Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot.

Same grape varieties for the Rosé Ribbonswhose great aromatic expression and freshness are guaranteed by the innovative Stelvin closure.

And finally the latest, the Centine Biancoa blend of the three international grape varieties that have found their perfect habitat in Tuscany, Pinot Grigio, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc, a broad varietal composition that gives it structure and complexity and a rich aromatic expression.

In full compliance with the Banfi philosophy, the new range offers wines of the highest quality, offered at a truly inviting price and suitable for everyday tables.

Montalcino, 4 December 2008 - Castello Banfi presents a prestigious new label, the "Belnero"expression of the company's strong and indissoluble bond with the Montalcino terroir.

A wine that celebrates and exalts an entire territory, while at the same time highlighting the thirty-year commitment to quality that Banfi has pursued, uninterruptedly, in its constant quest for excellence, in the vineyard as well as in the cellar.

Belnero - the terroir of Montalcino in Banfi's new label

Belnero' is produced from predominantly Sangiovese grapes, the emblematic vine of Montalcino tradition, blended, from time to time, with those international varieties that have now found their natural habitat in this region.

The first vintage vinified was 2005. A great vintage that conferred elegance and expressiveness, together with an important and well-balanced structure, which makes Belnero ideal for long ageing, even though it can be enjoyed immediately.

Montalcino, 20 October 2008 - The Public Prosecutor's Office of Siena has ordered the release of the Brunello di Montalcino 2003 by Castello Banfiafter determining full compliance with the product specification.

The 2003 vintage is therefore once again fully available to meet the numerous requests that had come in from all over the world and remained unanswered during the months of the investigation phase. The next 2004 vintage will, as usual, be regularly available from February 2009.

Castello Banfi's Brunello di Montalcino 2003 seized

'The Prosecutor's decision definitively closes the case of Castello Banfi's Brunello,' says Cristina Mariani-May, owner of the well-known Montalcino winery, with satisfaction.

"With the definitive 'liberation' of our Brunello, we can finally return to devote ourselves, with renewed passion and dedication, to that tireless pursuit of excellence that has made us famous and appreciated throughout the world.

Rome, 10 October 2008 - New basement for the US Embassy in Italy. Also Castello Banfi is among the sponsors for the construction of the wine cellar of Villa Taverna, a beautiful residence of the US Ambassador to Italy.

The project, conceived by Ambassador Ronald P. Spogli and financed by the best Italian and American wineries, will be presented on 10 October 2008, during which the work will officially begin.

Rome: New wine cellar for the US Embassy in Italy

Many famous people passing through Italy, including several US presidents, have stayed at Villa Taverna as guests of the US Ambassador. Despite its name and despite standing on a vineyard, Villa Taverna did not yet have a wine cellar.

Thanks to the support of Banfi and the other wineries, all of the highest calibre, called upon to take part in the project, a wine cellar will therefore be built at the prestigious Villa, which will certainly be an important showcase for Italian wines to the overseas public.

Montalcino, 24 September 2008 - The harvest began on 27 August with the Pinot Grigio and the Chardonnaywhich was followed by Sauvignon Blanc. Harvesting of the red grapes, Merlot and Syrah, began in mid-September, and we are now harvesting Sangiovese, which will be followed by the later variety, which is Cabernet Sauvignon.

Harvest 2008

The weather pattern of the year was good, with a rainy and not particularly cold winter and a very regular spring, both in terms of rainfall and temperatures.

There was heavy rainfall until mid-June, while an alternation of high temperatures with cooler periods and rainfall characterised the second half of the month and continued throughout July. The first phases of vine development, from budding to veraison, took place with a certain delay due to this weather pattern.  

The quality of the grapes is so far very good, and the cooling of the temperatures over the last few days has been very positive and is decisive for the polyphenolic ripening of the red varieties. The quantities produced are more or less in line with those of the previous harvest.

Montalcino, 15 September 2008 - "La Lus"The latest wine from Vigne Regali, Banfi's Piedmontese brand, comes from the brand new Albarossa project.

From the union of Barbera and Nebbiolo arises Albarossa, a red grape variety that has its roots in 1938, when Prof. Dalmasso, following some experiments on indigenous Piedmontese varieties, created this new and captivating crossbreed, which immediately demonstrated a unique and surprising character.

In 2001, four of Piedmont's most important wineries, including Vigne Regali, decided to finance large-scale experimentation of the project. The results of the research are positive and confirm and reinforce the impression of a modern wine with great visual impact, which nevertheless maintains the typical Piedmontese characteristics in its freshness and pleasant tannins. In 2006, the first vintage was vinified.

La lus - the latest and innovative label of regal vines

"La Lus", deep and intense ruby red, is the highest expression of this innovative and very typical grape variety. A wine endowed with great longevity, yet immediately enjoyable, thanks to the roundness and softness of its tannins. Ageing takes place for twelve months in French oak barriques and is then completed by eight months in the bottle. The release of the new label is planned for autumn 2008.

Vigne Regali once again confirms itself as a winery devoted to the enhancement and typicality of the lower Piedmont region and its wines, always attentive to incorporating novelties. A modern company with deep roots in tradition for a project that encapsulates the special characteristics of Piedmontese wines.