This winter, I took a deep dive into the Tuscan hills of Montalcino to visit the breathtaking 3,000 hectares of the Banfi Estate for 72 hours of sampling exquisite Italian wines paired with the finest Italian dining.

The property is truly magnificent, with one-third dedicated to vines and the rest shared between olive groves, wheat fields, truffles, orchards, and forests that promote biodiversity. Aside from producing Brunello wines of the highest quality, Banfi also crafts some of Italy’s finest dried plums, honey, balsamic vinegar, olive oil, beautiful pasta, and much more.

The Stay

We stayed in the beautiful Collupino farmhouse, a few minutes’ drive from the centrepiece of the estate: a dramatic castle that sits above Poggio alle Mura, surrounded by Banfi’s expansive vineyards and olive groves. The 18th-century Castello Banfi has become a hallmark of Tuscan hospitality and cuisine, featuring two restaurants (one Michelin-starred), an enoteca, a private glass museum, and the Balsameria, which produces top-class balsamic vinegar, as well as the critically acclaimed luxury boutique hotel “Il Borgo.” Discover more

The Wines

The wines of Banfi are born of a passion for unique terroirs, continuous research, intimate knowledge of different territories, and the ability to blend time-tested techniques with innovative solutions in both the vineyards and winery. The splendid vineyards of Montalcino and Chianti, Piedmont, and the Tuscan coast provide the ideal cradle for wines of great character and outstanding quality. Explore the collection

One highlight was visiting the Enoteca to taste the incredible wines on offer. These exclusive tastings guide you through the places and excellences that make Castello Banfi such a special destination. We even discovered Banfi’s most recent innovations—an area best described as a micro-winery within the winery, designed to exalt the wealth of their grape selection. True to Banfi’s philosophy, this new area is entirely open to visitors, thanks to comfortable and innovative architectural solutions, including a new footbridge crossing the entire vinification area.

Favourite Banfi Wines

Poggio alle Mura Riserva Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2016

A Riserva of great elegance and balance in structure and aromatic profile. Intense ruby red with garnet hues, sweet and complex on the nose with balsamic notes, hints of tobacco, plums, ripe cherries, and red berries. In the mouth, it is full-bodied with powerful yet sweet, well-honed tannins, excellent acidity, and a persistent finish. A long-ageing wine, perfect for meditation.

Poggio alle Mura Rosso di Montalcino DOC 2020

A fresh and fruity wine with ruby red colour and intense aromas of cherry and blackberry, perfectly combined with notes of liquorice and tobacco. Large, enveloping structure with a long, pleasant finish.

Castello Banfi Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2017

An intense, elegant, and balanced Brunello. Ruby red with light garnet nuances. Sweet and fruity bouquet with red berry jam, balanced by liquorice and pipe tobacco. Soft, smooth tannins integrate with strong acidity for a lively, powerful structure. Excellent persistence and great ageing potential.

The Dining

After a long day in the vineyards, we headed to La Taverna, a classical Tuscan restaurant beneath the vaulted arches of the former barrel cellars where Brunello once aged in large oak casks. The environment feels authentically Tuscan, complemented by Tuscan bread and dishes that highlight fresh, local ingredients.

The handmade pinci pasta from Senatore Cappelli organic flour with tomato and garlic sauce remains, to this day, the best pasta I’ve ever eaten—simple yet perfect in every way.

For fine dining in a refined atmosphere, the one Michelin-starred La Sala dei Grappoli is ideal. Its seasonal menu offers traditional Italian and Mediterranean dishes with a modern touch, paired with outstanding Banfi wines.

Be sure to visit the historic Balsameria, which produces balsamic vinegar far superior to most on the market. This nectar follows ancient Etruscan methods: grapes are harvested late for concentrated sugars, gently pressed, filtered, and simmered to reduce volume and intensify flavour. After cooling, it ages in wooden casks for 4–8 months, then is racked into progressively smaller barrels (60 to 25 litres) of oak, chestnut, cherry, ash, and mulberry until it emerges as salsa balsamica after about 12 years.

Each year, only three litres of Condimento Balsamico Etrusco are bottled from the smallest barrels, topped from the preceding ones. Drizzle sparingly on risottos, white and red meats, steamed or roasted fish, omelettes, or bitter-sweet recipes. A must-try on fresh strawberries, aged cheeses, and vanilla ice cream.

Sustainability at Banfi

Banfi is committed to sustainability across every aspect of its business. CEO and proprietor Cristina Mariani-May has been recognised for advancing sustainability in the wine industry. Castello Banfi was the first winery to achieve ISO 14001 environmental certification. She even declined an offer from LVMH to retain major involvement in operations.

Final Thoughts

Amore mio—what’s not to love at Banfi? A Tuscan castle, incredible wines with rich history, Michelin-starred food, and friendly, knowledgeable staff. I can’t wait to see what Banfi does next.

For more information:
Castello di Poggio alle Mura, 53024 Montalcino, Siena
T: +39 0577 840111
E: banfi@banfi.it
Visit Banfi

Written by Kaya Cheshire for Luxuria Lifestyle.