Banfi
In the rolling hills of southern Tuscany, where cypress trees mark the horizon and sunlight lingers like gold dust, lies one of Italy’s most visionary wine estates, Castello Banfi.
A name synonymous with modern Brunello, Banfi was founded in 1978 by the Mariani family with a dream: to unite Tuscan heritage with international excellence. Today, its wines are among the most acclaimed expressions of Sangiovese in the world, elegant, structured, and built for those who understand that time is an ingredient.
The estate’s 2,830 hectares, of which 850 are under vine, sweep across the gently undulating hills surrounding the historic Poggio alle Mura castle. This patchwork of soils, from stony marl to sandy clay and ancient riverbeds, provides a natural laboratory for Sangiovese, whose genetic clones Banfi helped refine through decades of research. The results are profound: wines of purity, structure and balance, capable of ageing gracefully for decades.
Under the guidance of winemaker Enrico Viglierchio, Banfi combines innovation and craft in equal measure. Modern temperature-controlled fermentation, gravity-flow cellars and careful oak maturation all serve one purpose: to let Montalcino’s fruit speak clearly. From the benchmark Brunello di Montalcino DOCG to the single-vineyard Vigna Marrucheto and the richly layered Poggio alle Mura, each wine carries Banfi’s unmistakable signature of elegance, depth, and quiet confidence.