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.

Montalcino, 8 August 2008 - At the helm of the prestigious restaurant, owned by the famous Montalcino winery, comes the young and brilliant Massimiliano Blasone. The Roman chef, little more than thirty years old, can already boast numerous and important experiences in the best kitchens in Italy and abroad, such as La Pergola at the Cavalieri Hilton in Rome, Il Duomo in Ragusa, the Onice at the Hotel Villa La Vedetta in Florence, the Residenz Heinz Winkler in Aschau (Germany), and Il Valentino in Santa Monica (California).

The Castello Banfi Restaurant, recognised and appreciated by the main guides in the sector, offers a cuisine aimed at sublimating the flavours of the Mediterranean culinary tradition. Research of the territory, extreme care in the choice of raw materials and exaltation of natural flavours are the cornerstones of Massimiliano Blasone's philosophy. A philosophy that fits best with the tradition of the Castello Banfi Restaurant.

We therefore warmly welcome the new Executive-Chef, who with his wealth of ideas and experience will reinforce the remarkable successes already achieved, ready to conquer new important goals. In this new challenge he will also avail himself of the prestigious consultancy of the multi-starred Chef Heinz Beck, who has collaborated with Castello Banfi since the very beginning in the development of the "Ristorazione" project.

 

20 July 2008, Montalcino - The eleventh edition of 'Jazz & Wine in Montalcino', the important musical event strongly desired by the Banfi winery, the cultural association Jazz & Image of Rome and the Municipality of Montalcino.

Montalcino - great success for the 11th edition of Jazz & Wine in Montalcino

As is now customary, after the inaugural concert, held within the evocative walls of Castello Banfi, the festival moved to the splendid 14th-century fortress of Montalcino. On stage, within this evocative setting, some of the most authoritative and refined artists of the national and international jazz scene performed.

Just to name a few, among the Italians the unmistakable trumpet of Enrico Ravaa regular on the Montalcino stage, and Stefano Bollani Cariocawhich returned to Montalcino after a few years' absence, which closed this 11th edition with a sell-out.

Many stars of the international jazz scene, starting with Mike Stern with the legendary quartet of Yellow Jackets, protagonists of an evening that was an extraordinary success with the public. This was followed by the great orchestra of Chicago Jazz Ensamble and acclaimed by the public, Shawnn Monteiro who won everyone over with his scratchy voice.

This last edition, thanks to a highly prestigious programme and the growing involvement of all the partners involved, saw a truly exceptional success in terms of audience attendance, testifying to the importance that this festival, which began in 1998, has assumed over the years.

(Montalcino, 30 June 2008) - Royal Vineyards, the Piedmontese brand of the Banfi group, has expanded its product range with a prestigious Metodo Classico, the Cuvée Aurora Rosè 2005. This pure Pinot Noir is produced from hand-picked grapes coming exclusively from the estate's own vineyards, located in the high hills of the Langhe south of Alba.

A new label for regal vines - cuvée aurora rosé

Belonging to the Alta Langa DOC, the new label joins the Cuvée Aurora Brut, which has already been on the market for a few years and on this occasion has been completely renewed in its packaging.

The Cuvée Aurora Rosé has an appealing powdery pink colour, a fine and persistent perlage, intense and elegant aromas reminiscent of golden apples, with hints of dog rose and vanilla; good structure, balanced and silky.

The Cuvée Aurora Rosé, excellent as an aperitif, pairs perfectly with white meats and fish dishes. Distributed by Banfi Distribuzione srl.

16-25 April - Seven lucky Target 2007 winning agents who, at the 2008 vintagehad the pleasure of visiting the famous and prestigious chilean wine valleys. It was an exciting and constructive experience in which we had the opportunity to get to know different and interesting wineries.

Banfi trip to Chile

From the enchanting and 'wild' Bodega de Los Robles (in the Colchagua Valley) where Emiliana is dedicated to the production of biodynamic wines, to the impeccable and elegant charm of the Almaviva winery (in the Maipo Valley), where Concha y Toro in collaboration with Baron Philippe de Rothschild produces Chile's first Premier Grand Cru Classé.

Passion for wine was the main theme of this magnificent experience, which ended in northern Chile with an unforgettable visit to the Atacama Desert, the driest desert in the world. Hasta luego!

Montalcino, 5 March 2008 - Banfi, the well-known Montalcino winery, from next April expands its already vast range of distributed wines by including in its portfolio one of the most extreme, extraordinary and incredible types of wine in the world, theicewine.

Banfi adds a new jewel: inniskillin, the iceWine par excellence

In keeping with its well-established line of choices for high-quality wines, Banfi has opted for the exclusive distribution in Italy of an elite brand such as Inniskillin, a prestigious producer in Canada of this precious and unusual wine. The award-winning company was founded in 1975 by Donald Ziraldo, son of Italian emigrants, and Karl J. Kaiser, of Austrian origin.

Icewine is a sweet wine, but not necessarily a dessert wine, for the production of which, in order to achieve maximum sugar concentration and extreme sweetness calibrated by excellent acidity, it requires a specific meteorological characteristic, namely 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 will start distribution with three of the wines from Inniskillin's extensive range: a Cabernet Franc, a Vidal and a Riesling.