Castello Banfi

The company takes its name from Teodolinda Banfi, aunt of John Mariani Sr., who founded the import company Banfi Vintners on Spring Street in New York's Little Italy in 1919. After his father's death, Mariani's family lived with Teodolinda in Italy, and she took an active interest in the children's early education. She later ran the household staff of Achille Ratti, Cardinal Archbishop of Milan, who became Pope Pius XI in 1922; she was the first lay person to hold that post. Mariani's sons, John F. Mariani Jr. and Harry F. Mariani, took over the firm in 1963. In 1978 the brothers founded the Montalcino estate, working with Italian winemaker Ezio Rivella to transform the land they had bought. The estate covers 2,830 hectares, a place where, in the company's words, 'nature and passion come together.'

• Banfi Vintners founded 1919 in New York by John Mariani Sr., named for his aunt Teodolinda Banfi, head of household staff for Pope Pius XI
• John Sr. handed the company to his sons, John F. Mariani Jr. and Harry F. Mariani, in 1963
• John and Harry Mariani founded the Montalcino estate in 1978 with winemaker Ezio Rivella; it covers 2,830 hectares
• Banfi Piemonte, a separate winery near Novi Ligure and Acqui Terme, was founded in 1979, when John and Harry Mariani took over the historic Bruzzone winery and with it a Piedmont sparkling wine tradition

The Castle of Poggio alle Mura stands on a strategic site between Siena and the Maremma. The complex was largely built between the 9th and 13th centuries, though dungeons cut into the tufa point to an Etruscan settlement and white stone ashlars of Roman type in the entrance arch to a later Roman villa. The first official record dates from 1318, when the cadastral survey of the time, the Tavola delle Possessioni, lists it as belonging to the heirs of Messer Mino di Neri dei Ranuccini. Ownership passed to the Colombini family and, in the 15th century, to the Counts Placidi, Sienese nobles who held the castle (apart from two confiscations, in 1483 and 1487) until 1959, when it was sold to Italian entrepreneur Giovanni Mastropaolo. Damaged during World War II, the castle joined the Banfi estate in 1983, and the Mariani family restored it.

• Complex largely built 9th-13th centuries; first documented in 1318 in the Tavola delle Possessioni cadastral survey
• Held by the Counts Placidi from the 15th century until 1959, apart from two confiscations by the Republic of Siena (1483 and 1487)
• Sold in 1959 to entrepreneur Giovanni Mastropaolo; joined the Banfi estate in 1983 and was restored by the Mariani family after wartime damage
• Today houses the Il Borgo hotel, two restaurants, an enoteca, the Balsameria and a private glass and bottle museum

In 1982 Banfi began a Sangiovese clonal selection program with the University of Milan and viticulture researcher Attilio Scienza, to identify clones suited to the estate's soil and climate conditions. Roughly 650 clones were narrowed to about 180 and then to 15; six of them, Janus 10, Janus 20, Tin 10, Tin 50, BF 30 and BF 10, were registered in 1996. Since 1992 every new Sangiovese planting on the estate has used at least three complementary selected clones, chosen for each vineyard's soil. The 10-hectare Vigna Marrucheto, planted in 2009 with three clones (Janus 10, Janus 50 and BF 30), produced its first vintage in 2016.

• 1982: clonal selection program begins with the University of Milan and researcher Attilio Scienza
• 650 clones studied, narrowed to 180 and then to 15; six clones registered in 1996 (Janus 10, Janus 20, Tin 10, Tin 50, BF 30, BF 10)
• Since 1992, new Sangiovese plantings use at least three complementary clones matched to each vineyard site
• Vigna Marrucheto (10 hectares, planted 2009, first vintage 2016) uses a three-clone selection of Janus 10, Janus 50 and BF 30

Brunello di Montalcino DOCG is the heart of the range: 10 to 12 days of skin contact, then a minimum of four years of aging, including two years in mostly French oak barriques with some Slavonian oak casks, before release in the wine's fifth year. Poggio alle Mura Brunello, from select clones grown on the slopes around the castle, is the estate's first unfiltered wine, aged two years in oak and two in bottle. Poggio alle Mura Riserva macerates 12 to 14 days, ferments at 27-29 degrees Celsius in the Horizon tanks, and ages a minimum of five years, including at least two in wood (90 percent French oak barrique, 10 percent large oak casks) and one in bottle. Poggio all'Oro Riserva, first produced in 1985 and made only in the best vintages, releases in its sixth year rather than the standard fifth. Rosso di Montalcino DOC macerates 7 to 10 days and ages 10 to 12 months in French barriques and large Slavonian oak barrels, plus six months in bottle. The Super Tuscans Excelsus, Belnero, Magna Cum Laude and Summus are bottled as Toscana IGT. The range also includes Fonte alla Selva Gran Selezione Chianti Classico, Banfi Chianti Classico, Chianti Classico Riserva and Chianti Superiore, and the sweet Florus Moscadello di Montalcino.

• Castello Banfi Brunello di Montalcino DOCG: 10-12 days skin contact, minimum 4 years total aging including 2 years mostly in French oak barriques, released in the 5th year
• Poggio alle Mura Brunello DOCG: the estate's first unfiltered wine, aged 2 years in oak and 2 years in bottle
• Poggio alle Mura Riserva DOCG: minimum 5 years aging including at least 2 years in wood (90% French oak barrique, 10% large oak casks) and 1 year in bottle; fermented in the Horizon tanks
• Poggio all'Oro Riserva DOCG, first made in 1985, releases in the 6th year rather than the standard 5th; Rosso di Montalcino DOC ages 10-12 months plus 6 months in bottle

The hospitality complex grew alongside the winery: the Enoteca opened in 1997, La Sala dei Grappoli restaurant and La Taverna in 2002, and the Il Borgo hotel in 2007. Il Borgo occupies a stone hamlet built in the 1700s to house peasants who worked for the castle's noble owners and has 12 suites and 2 rooms. La Sala dei Grappoli holds a Michelin star, Il Borgo carries a Michelin Guide distinction, and Castello Banfi is affiliated with Relais and Chateaux. The castle also houses a private museum of glass and bottles, named for Giovanni F. Mariani, with glass dating to ancient Rome in a collection the estate describes as one of the largest private collections in its field. In the Balsameria, Condimento Balsamico Etrusco ages for about 12 years, following a recipe based on traditional Etruscan methods. At the International Enological Concourse in Verona, Castello Banfi has been named International Winery of the Year five times and Italian Winery of the Year thirteen times.

• Enoteca opened 1997; La Sala dei Grappoli restaurant and La Taverna opened 2002; Il Borgo hotel opened 2007 with 12 suites and 2 rooms
• La Sala dei Grappoli holds a Michelin star; Il Borgo carries a Michelin Guide distinction; Castello Banfi is a Relais and Chateaux affiliate
• Private glass and bottle museum, named for Giovanni F. Mariani, holds glass dating to ancient Rome; the Balsameria ages Condimento Balsamico Etrusco for about 12 years
• Five-time International Winery of the Year and thirteen-time Italian Winery of the Year at the International Enological Concourse, Verona

Banfi Societa Agricola Srl obtained Equalitas sustainability certification in 2021, and the related Banfi Srl in 2024. The company also holds ISO 14001 (environmental management), SA8000 (social accountability) and ISO 9001:2000 (quality management) certifications. In 2022 Banfi obtained Equalitas product certification for four of its wines, and the Brunello di Montalcino Poggio all'Oro 2016 became the first Brunello di Montalcino with that certification. Cristina Mariani-May leads the company. She joined Banfi in 1993, shared the president and CEO role with her cousin James Mariani from 2007, and became sole president and CEO in February 2018, when James Mariani moved to the advisory board as principal and Rich Andrews became chief operating officer. Cristina and James are grandchildren of founder John Mariani Sr.; their fathers, John F. Mariani Jr. and Harry F. Mariani respectively, continue as chairman emeritus and president emeritus.

• Equalitas certification: Banfi Societa Agricola Srl in 2021, Banfi Srl in 2024; ISO 14001, SA8000 and ISO 9001:2000 also held
• 2022: Banfi obtains Equalitas product certification for four wines; Brunello di Montalcino Poggio all'Oro 2016 is the first Brunello di Montalcino with this certification
• Cristina Mariani-May joined the company in 1993, co-led it with cousin James Mariani from 2007, and became sole president and CEO in February 2018
• James Mariani moved to the advisory board as principal in 2018; Rich Andrews became chief operating officer

Primary sources: the estate's hospitality site (banfi.it/eng), including the company history timeline, Banfi Castle history page, products, sustainability and hospitality pages, and the news item on Cristina Mariani-May's 2018 CEO appointment; and the Banfi Vintners import company site (banfiusa.com), including its company overview and individual wine technical sheets. Secondary sources: The Drinks Business (February 2018 CEO announcement), Family Business Magazine (Mariani family succession feature), and independent wine-education and trade coverage of Banfi's Sangiovese clonal research (Wine -- Mise en abyme blog, citing Nesto and di Savino's 'Chianti Classico'; Decanter). Last verified 2026-10-12. Where the estate's own site and a secondary source disagree, the estate's own site governs.