Famous winery (also Banfi or Villa Banfi) located in the mountain town of Montalcino in the Italian region of Tuscany. It was founded in 1978 by the Italian Americans Harry and John Mariani from New York, who had come to great prosperity by importing Lambrusco. The total estate comprises almost 3,000 hectares of land. About 850 hectares of it are planted with vines and are situated at an altitude of 250 to 400 metres above sea level. The individual grape varieties are planted at different optimal heights to ensure good results. The most important are Brunello = Sangiovese clone (150 ha), Chardonnay (95 ha), Cabernet Sauvignon (143 ha), Montepulciano, Moscato(Muscat Blanc), Pinot Grigio(Pinot Gris, Pinot Nero(Pinot Noir), Sauvignon Blanc (42 ha), Sémillon and Syrah. 80% of the vineyards are irrigated from artificial lakes. Attached to the winery are a large restaurant and a vinotheque.
Dr. Ezio Rivella, a retired oenologist and pioneer in 2000, who is considered one of the most prominent personalities in Italian viticulture, played a major role in its development. Enrico Viglierchio has been the managing director since 2001. The Swiss oenologist Rudy Buratti is responsible for the vinification. The owner interests are represented by Cristina Mariani and her cousin James Mariani.
The high-tech winery in Sant'Angelo Scali (near Montalcino) is one of the most modern worldwide. Here, all steps of the winemaking process from grape milling to fermentation and bottling are computer-controlled. There are further properties in Piedmont with a winery in Strevi. It produces the DOCG wines Barolo, Brachetto d'Acqui, Brunello di Montalcino (Poggio alle Mura and Poggio all'Oro), Chianti-Classico and Gavi, the DOC wines Moscadello di Montalcino and Rosso di Montalcino (Centine), as well as the IGT wines "Excelsus"(Bordeaux blend) and "Summus" (Sangiovese, CS, Syrah). About 14 million bottles of wine are produced annually.
