Castello Banfi Named The Winery of the Year, Europe

    OLD BROOKVILLE, NY, April 08, 2015 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Family-owned Castello Banfi is named the Winery of the Year, Europe in the 2015 Winemaker Challenge, an international competition organized by syndicated wine columnist Robert Whitley.

The Pursuit of Excellence at Castello Banfi has inspired research for more natural wine. Several of Europe's foremost enologists joined the president of The World and The Italian Enological Societies at Castello Banfi to pioneer technology to reduce sulfites, eliminate histamines and errant enzymes, perfect vineyard improvements, develop nitrogen bottling and filter-free wines for enhanced complexity and elegance.

The family has intrinsically tied itself to the territory of Montalcino and now beyond to Strevi and Piedmont. When John Mariani Jr., family proprietor and now Chairman Emeritus of Banfi, inaugurated Castello Banfi winery in 1984, he declared, "It is our fondest desire that this project will be good for the people of Montalcino, good for Italy, good for America, good for all people who love fine wine."

Staying true to these words, Castello Banfi has become one of the world's most unique research vineyard estates, with decades of clonal research, soil and hydration studies, nitrogen bottle pioneering, research into different French oaks, and pioneering fermentation in temperature controlled French oak. Findings from these studies have been generously shared with the wine-making community at large.

Additionally, Castello Banfi is the first winery in the world to be awarded international recognition for exceptional environmental, ethical and social responsibility (ISO 14001 and SA8000) as well as an international leader in customer satisfaction (ISO 9001:2000).

This commitment to improving the standards in the vineyard and at the winery has enabled Castello Banfi to produce world-class wines that deliver a consistent experience to consumers at exceptional values - from its Brunello di Montalcino (Best in Class Italian at the Winemaker Challenge) to its everyday value wine Centine (Gold Medal winner).

For more information on the Winemaker Challenge and a complete list of award winners, visit www.winemakerchallenge.com/.

Winemaker Challenge 2015 Results

BEST OF CLASS ITALIAN
Castello Banfi 2010 Brunello di Montalcino

BEST OF CLASS PINOT GRIGIO
Castello Banfi 2013 San Angelo, Toscana, Italy

CASTELLO BANFI
Silver 2012 Rosso di Montalcino DOC 89 Points
Platinum 2011 Belnero, Toscana IGT 94 Points [95 points by James Suckling]
Platinum 2010 Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 95 Points [97 points by James Suckling]
Gold 2013 San Angelo Pinot Grigio, Toscana IGT 90 Points

BANFI
Silver 2012 Fonte Alla Selva, Chianti Classico DOCG 87 Points
Platinum 2011 Chianti Classico DOCG, Riserva 95 Points
Gold 2013 Centine Rosso, Toscana IGT 92 Points
Gold 2012 ASKA, Bolgheri Rosso DOC 93 Points
Silver 2013 Centine Bianco, Toscana IGT 89 Points
Silver NV Brut, Metodo Classico 88 Points
Platinum 2013 Rosa Regale Sparkling Red, Brachetto d'Acqui DOCG 95 Points

Also of note:
Berlin Wine Olympics 2015
Gold 2013 Vermentino "La Pettegola"

Banfi Vintners was founded in New York in 1919 by John F. Mariani, Sr. and built into America's leading wine marketer over the last four decades. The company continues to be family-owned by the founder's children and grandchildren, who are also proprietors of the Castello Banfi vineyard estate in Montalcino, Tuscany; Vigne Regali Cellars in Strevi, Piedmont; and Pacific Rim Winery in Washington's Columbia Valley. For more information, visit www.banfiwines.com.

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