In the first episode of Wine Explained By Banfi, you learn the story of Banfi and the background of your host, Joe Janish.

Joe began in the wine industry knowing nothing about wine -- he didn't even know there were different types of grapes. And he didn't like wine, because the only wine he ever had was homemade wine -- which can taste very different from what is available at a restaurant or in a wine shop. Today, Joe does enjoy wine and knows a little more "than the average bear" thanks to over twenty years of studying, tasting, and learning about wine in the wine business. He is your guide to the right wine choices.

Banfi is a luxury wine producer in Italy and wine marketer in the USA. The name comes from Teodolinda Banfi, aunt of the company's founder John Mariani, Sr. She was the head of household for Pope Pius XI and the first woman who wasn't a nun allowed to work and live in the Vatican.

The company began in the Little Italy section of New York City in 1919 -- a year before Prohibition. It stayed in business by selling Italian foodstuffs and alcoholic products that were legally considered medicinal, such as Florio Marsala and Ramazzotti Amaro. These "medicinal products" were to be taken to help with digestion and flatulence.

After Prohibition was repealed, Banfi focused on high-end wines from France, Germany, and Italy.

In the 1950s and 1960s, John Mariani, Sr.'s sons John Jr. and Harry became more involved with the company. They felt a need to sell a wine that would appeal to their generation -- something that was similar to soda pop. After searching Italy, they found a wine that was dark in color, fizzy, and slightly sweet, called Lambrusco. Marketing this Lambrusco like a soft drink -- through lifestyle-driven TV commercials, the wine became the most successful imported wine in US history.

Some of the profits were leveraged to purchase a large swath of mostly virgin land in Montalcino, Tuscany, Italy, and to build a state-of-the-art winery and vineyards that is now called Castello Banfi.

The Castello Banfi estate is 7100 acres -- about the size of Manhattan -- and includes 2100 acres of vineyards. The rest of the land is forestry, olive trees, wheat fields, fruit orchards, lakes, and hunting grounds -- it is essentially a farm with vineyards. The estate also includes Il Borgo, a luxury boutique hotel, two restaurants, and an enoteca (wine shop and tasting room).

Today the president and CEO of both Castello Banfi and Banfi in the USA is Cristina Mariani-May, granddaughter of founder John Mariani Sr. and the third generation of the Mariani family to run the company.

Castello Banfi is best known for making Brunello di Montalcino, the best wine made in Italy and one of the best and most sought-after wines in the world. It also makes Super Tuscans, Chianti, and white wines, and there is another Banfi winery in Piedmont, Italy. Castello Banfi wines are sold in over 90 countries.

Banfi's goal is not for people to drink more wine, but for more people to drink wine. Wine is food and responsible wine drinking can bring more enjoyment to your dinner table. This podcast will help you understand enough about wine to make it a positive part of your life.

A photo of Teodolinda Banfi can be seen here: https://banfi.co/Teodolinda It somewhat explains why she was allowed to live in the Vatican, amongst celibate men.

A photo of old bottles of Florio Marsala and Ramazzotti Amaro are here: https://banfi.co/amaro_marsala

The back label from a bottle of Ramazzotti Amaro sold during Prohibition can be seen here: https://banfi.co/ramzlabel

To learn more about Banfi, visit these links:

Castello Banfi: https://castellobanfi.com/en/

Castello Banfi - Il Borgo: https://castellobanfiilborgo.com/en

Banfi Wines: https://banfiwines.com

Banfi Wines on Facebook: https://banfi.co/Facebook

Banfi Wines on Twitter: https://banfi.co/Twitter

Banfi Wines on Instagram: https://banfi.co/Instagram

Banfi Wines on YouTube: https://banfi.co/YouTube

Banfi Wines on Pinterest: https://banfi.co/Pinterest

Banfi Wines on LinkedIn: https://banfi.co/LinkedIn

The website for this podcast is here: https://WineExplainedByBanfi.com

Please email the host at joe@wineexplainedbybanfi.com with your comments and questions about wine.