"We are here today, friends, employees and acquaintances, to remember, on the sad occasion of his passing, Harry Mariani, a calm and elegant man, with gentle and affable manners who, together with his brother John, in times not out of suspicion, when the Italy of quality wine was still closed in on itself, succeeded in giving credibility and space on the markets, first American and then world-wide, to products that were indeed of excellence but which were not yet known, blossomed. I often think back to the beginning, when they came looking for me and together we created the Castello Banfiare indelible memories of a lifetime of work, joys and rewards'.
The moving farewell to Harry Mariani
Through the words of Ezio Rivella - the world-famous oenologist who developed the visionary project of the Italo-American brothers in Montalcino - pronounced during the suffrage celebration held in the Castello Banfi winery, the world of Italian and American wine said goodbye yesterday to one of its great protagonists and pioneers: Harry Mariani, who died in Huntington (New York) at the age of 78 on 5 January.
Ezio Rivella was echoed by Remo Grassi, vice-president and managing director of the Montalcino winery, who remembered the pioneer as he attended the funeral yesterday at St. Patrick's Church in Huntington: "With Harry goes a piece of wine history. It is thanks to an intuition of his and his alter ego, his brother John, that quality Italian wine crossed the borders first of the States and then of the world: they literally taught Americans to appreciate, drink and buy excellent wines. With the Mariani family, in fact, Brunello has had its consecration among quality wines in every corner of the globe. Harry leaves a great void for us at Castello Banfi".
Harry's death leaves, without a doubt, a huge void for all those who know, live and 'frequent' the world of wine, but, certainly, the memory of his life, his work and his intuition, will be a comfort and stimulus for all those who work in this sector.
