Ultimate Vinitourism Getaway in Montalcino, Tuscany
The Catello Banfi vineyard estate is one of Tuscany’s finest tourist destinations in the region. For the oenophile interested a full vinitourism experience, this is the 2021 getaway you should be planning for.
As the destination’s premier vineyard, the award-winning Castello Banfi vineyard estate is a beacon for authentic Tuscan hospitality and food. The 7,100 acre estate provides the full vinitourism experience to gift travelers looking to Italy for their first international getaway with its luxury hotel Il Borgo, a Relais & Chateaux property set to open March 25, 2021.
The hotel transports guests into a fairytale with its untouched historic Tuscan exterior architecture, complimented by its interior renovations to provide all modern comforts. Each room and suite is distinctly unique, designed with premium fabrics, and one-of-a-kind embellishments crafted by hand and conceptualized by Federico Forquet, one of the most renowned architects in Italy.
Travelers can book the hotel’s Escape to Tuscany package to experience the magic of the region and immerse themselves in the Tuscan retreat with amenities including:
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- Welcome gift including a drink upon arrival, followed by three complimentary half-bottle wines to sample the iconic flavors of Castello Banfi.
- Winery tour with an onsite sommelier to discover the rich flavors and innovations developed at Castello Banfi, like its unique research methods on the soils of Montalcino that are responsible for identifying over 15 registered clonal selections of Sangiovese vines.
- Guided tasting of three of the estates premier Sangiovese wines with offerings ranging from Brunello di Montalcino and Prugnolo of Montepulciano Chianti to Morellino di Scansano.
- Five-course gourmet tasting dinner paired with six Banfi wines at La Sala dei Grappoli restaurant.
- Exclusive access to The Giovanni F. Mariani Museum of Glass, showcasing various eras of glass production through history including ancient Roman glassware, which is the world’s largest private collection of such pieces.
- 15% discount on all wine purchases made at the onsite wine shop to take home as mementos, as well as a complimentary farewell bottle of Castello Banfi extra-virgin olive oil.
- Additional amenities include: Complimentary soft drinks minibar, Nespresso coffee machine, Pay-per-view TV, WiFi connection and parking area.
- Visitors enjoy tours of the winery and authentic Tuscan cuisine at the two restaurants — For lunch, La Taverna is located under an ancient vaulted ceiling, and for dinner, the elegant Sala dei Grappoli. The Enoteca/Wine Bar recreates a true Tuscan wine shop with local sheep’s cheese and classic Tuscan prosciutto paired with estate wines.
- A micro-winery within the winery was recently conceived and a new area is entirely open to visitors thanks to comfortable and innovative architectural solutions, including the new footbridge that crosses the entire vinification area.
- Vineyard day tour highlights include (see full details here): Experiencing the Balsameria, the balsamic vinegar ageing cellar; Private walk through of the vineyards and winery; 5-course wine pairing lunch at La Taverna.
Banfi was founded in 1978 thanks to the will of the Italian-American brothers, John and Harry Mariani.
From the beginning, the goal of the two brothers was to create a state-of-the-art winery combined with the most advanced science in the vineyards for the production of premium wines.
Together with the Mariani family, Ezio Rivella, one of Italy’s foremost enologists, who understood that due to the richness of the soils and the privileged microclimatic position, the property would have great capacity of development.
In those years, the brothers, John and Harry, also purchased Bruzzone, a historic winery in Piedmont. Founded in 1860 and specialized in the production of sparkling wines, today is known as Banfi Piemonte.
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