The world of Italian and American wine bids farewell to one of its great protagonists and pioneers: Harry Mariani, who, with his brother John, founded (in 1978) one of the most important wine companies in Italy, has passed away at the age of 78, Castello Banfi (with the fundamental work of Ezio Rivella, a project that today continues under the guidance of Cristina and James Mariani, John and Harry's children, with the property firmly in the hands of the Italo-American family, ed, and then in the world, also thanks to the success achieved by the Mariani family between 1970 and the 1980s with the importation into the States of Lambrusco wine from Cantine Riunite, effectively beginning the "love story" between Italian wines and American consumers. An official note from Banfi itself spread the news.
The wine world of Italy and America salute Harry Mariani
"My father made a great contribution to the wine culture and trade, especially in his early years when professional wine management was nowhere near as developed as it is today, and this expanded the opportunities for consumers to try and enjoy a good bottle of wine, especially from Italy," commented his son James Mariani, co-CEO of Banfi Vintners (the company that exclusively imports all of the group's wines into the US), and who co-owns the company with Cristina Mariani-May, Harry's granddaughter and John's daughter.
Harry Mariani (who together with his brother John has been Banfi's honorary president until today), a graduate of Colgate University (New York), joined Banfi Vintners at the end of the 1950s, coordinated the administrative, commercial and marketing activities, and soon became president of the company. Harry and John joined forces only a year after acquiring the Tuscan property of Castello Banfi, and then broadened their horizons even further by also taking over the historic Piedmontese winery Bruzzone, which has now become Banfi Piemonte.
One of those personalities, perhaps less often in the limelight than others, who made an important contribution to the success of Italian wine in the US and the world. The funeral is scheduled for 13 January in New York, and at the same time a mass and commemoration will be celebrated in the Church of the Castello di Poggio alle Mura di Banfi, in Montalcino.
(Source: winenews.co.uk/)
