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2001 2 July

WNE ENTHUSIAST MAGAZINE NAMES CASTELLO BANFI EUROPE'S "WINERY OF THE YEAR"

Castello Banfi of Montalcino, Tuscany has been named 2001 European "Winery of The Year" by Wine Enthusiast Magazine.

The annual award, presented by Wine Enthusiast Publisher Adam Strum, recognized Castello Banfi for its "innovative varietal and clonal research on vines, for its key role in the economic transformation of the small Tuscan town of Montalcino, and its seamless transition to a new generation of Mariani family management."

Castello Banfi has also been recognized as the unprecedented four-time "International Winery of the Year" and eight-time "Italian Winery of the Year" at the Concorso Enologico Internazionale in Verona, Italy. Several of the estate's wines have been singled out for their style and quality by the worlds leading wine guides and groups, including the 16,000-member Association of Italian Sommeliers who voted Banfi Italy's 1999 "Winery of the Year."

"The honors that we receive are a confirmation of our efforts and an inspiration to forge ahead," said Cristina Mariani, who along with her cousin, James Mariani, is proprietor of the family-owned winery as well as leading US wine importer Banfi Vintners. Castello Banfi was established in 1978 by their fathers, John and Harry Mariani - whose own father, John F. Mariani, Sr., founded Banfi Vintners in 1919.

In Montalcino, Banfi worked with the world's leading enologists to assemble a contiguous estate of 7,100 acres and select ideal sites within to plant a constellation of single vineyards covering just over 2,400 acres. In conjunction with the University of Milan, they pioneered intense research on the Brunello clone of the Sangiovese grape, narrowing the field from 600 to the ideal 15 clones to produce consistently outstanding Brunello vintage after vintage, and shared the results with their neighboring producers.

Signature wines of the Castello Banfi estate include the single-vineyard Poggio all'Oro Brunello di Montalcino Riserva, and two proprietary cuvées, SummuS and ExcelsuS. Noble varietals, including Tavernelle Cabernet Sauvignon and San Angelo Pinot Grigio, are produced there as well as traditional wines of the region, such as Brunello and Rosso di Montalcino.

Crowning the estate is the medieval fortress now known as Castello Banfi, meticulously restored as a hospitality center boasting a formal restaurant, casual-dining "taverna," enoteca and glass museum.

A leader in wine education, Banfi provides grants and endowments to several universities and makes generous annual contributions to selected charities around the world.

PRIVACY POLICY

Banfi S.r.l. places fundamental importance on your personal privacy. Banfi S.r.l. takes all steps to protect the personal information of the users. Optimal service is possible when we can assure that the user is aware of and understands the norms and criteria adopted for our privacy policy. The criteria used by Banfi S.r.l. regarding personal information are as follows:
 
Why personal information is collected?
Banfi S.r.l. gathers and uses personal information of the users to guarantee optimal service and to facilitate access to a broad range of products and services. Furthermore, the personal information is used to keep every user updated on new offerings and other information that Banfi S.r.l. believe may be useful to the user. Furthermore, personal information could be used to contact the user to invite the user to participate in eventual market research that allows us to both evaluate the level of user satisfaction and to develop superior products.
 
How personal information is collected
Information about our users is collected in different ways. For example, information that can be used to contact the user can be requested when that person writes to Banfi S.r.l., telephones to ask about a service, or participates in an online poll. Furthermore, when a person subscribes to the internet service of Banfi S.r.l. or to the mailing list, they provide information that is then collected and filed within a secure database.
 
When personal information is revealed
It can become necessary to reveal personal data of the client by law or in the course of legal proceedings or other situations in the public interest.
 
How personal information is protected
Banfi S.r.l. protects the security of information sent by people using physical, electronic and managerial methods. Banfi S.r.l. invites its users to take the necessary steps to protect their personal data on the Internet. Banfi S.r.l. suggests that users often change their password, using a combination of letters and numbers, and relying solely on secure browsers.

Access to personal information
The user can, at any time, access information regarding themselves. To review and update personal information that Banfi S.r.l. has gathered, please contact banfi@banfi.it.
 
Collection of personal information
It is possible to navigate the websites of Banfi S.r.l. anonymously. In any case, the browser automatically comunicates the type of computer and operating system used.

Like many other websites, Banfi S.r.l. uses "cookie" technology. The first time a user connects to the site, their cookies identify the browser with a random and unique number. The cookies used do not reveal any information of a personal nature to the user, including first names that could be used to welcome the user on their next visit. The cookies help us understand what part of the website the users visit more frequently, which are the paths used by the clients, and how long they remain connected. The cookies are used to study the traffic patterns of the Banfi S.r.l. websites in order to improve their functionality.