ENOLOGIST CARLO FERRINI AND THE FOUNDER OF CASTELLI BANFI IN MONTALCINO, JOHN MARIANI, GO TO NEW YORK FOR THE “2007 WINE STAR AWARDS”: THE PRESTIGIOUS MAGAZINE, WINE ENTHUSIAST, WILL BE AWARDING THE WINE WORLD’S VIP’S ON JANUARY 28

The Big Apple’s New York Public Library will be hosting Wine Enthusiast’s much anticipated “2007 Wine Star Awards” on January 28th and Italians Carlo Ferrini will be elected “Winemaker of the Year” and John Mariani recognized for his “Lifetime Achievement” as founder of Castello Banfi in Montalcino. These are two prestigious recognitions that also reconfirm the admiration the U.S. has for Italian wines, an admiration that has now made Italian wine the reference point of the country’s wine market.

The “Winemaker of the Year” award was given to Florentine Carlo Ferrini, a man who has a truly natural talent for wine. After graduating from the University of Florence with a degree in agriculture in 1978, he immediately began his professional experience at the Chianti Classico Consortium, where he would stay for over 10 years, contributing decisively to the guidelines for the “Chianti Classico 2000” project, dedicated to discovering the secrets of the top Tuscan grape varietal par excellence: Sangiovese. In 1992 Ferrini would begin the consulting career that would lead him on his way to becoming one of the most esteemed enologists in Italy. In 2000, the Gambero Rosso/Slow Food guide nominated him enologist of the year, followed by the same recognition from the prestigious Associazione Italiana dei Sommelier (AIS) in 2003.
Today, he is the wine consultant for the most important wine producers in Italy, from the Tuscan Barone Ricasoli, Brancaia, Castello di Fonterutoli, Fattoria le Corti, Fattoria Nittardi, Poggio Bonelli (MPS group), Fattoria di Petrolo, Poggio Verrano, Castello del Terriccio, Sapaio, Poliziano, Talenti, Castello Romitorio, Casanova di Neri (whose Brunello di Montalcino Tenuta Nuova 2001 was nominated best wine in the world by another American cult wine magazine, Wine Spectator), to the Abbruzzo’s Valle Reale, the Sicilian Tasca d’Almerita and Donnafugata, and Trentino San Leonardo of the Marchesi Guerrieri Gonzaga.

And Wine Enthusiast’s “Lifetime Achievement” recognition has been given to John Mariani, technically a U.S. citizen, but who he has deep roots in Italy. In 1950, together with his brother Harry, Mariani created a wine import business in the U.S., becoming one of the top importers of Bordeaux and Burgundy in the 1960’s. In 1969, Mariani reaped success with the launch of the Italian wine Lambrusco by Riunite on the U.S. market.
This success would then lead him to become the top importer of Italian wines as well, a position he would hold for 26 years. In the mid 70’s Mariani took the leap and became a wine producer himself, founding Castello Banfi in Montalcino thus contributing to the international success of Brunello. He is a man of almost prophetic strategic visions and even now, despite his age, he continues to be a point of reference for the politics of marketing more innovative wines.

Wine Enthusiast’s Other “2007 Wine Star Awards” Winners:

Wine Person of the Year: Ray Chadwick, Diageo Chateau & Estate Wines

American Winery of the Year: DFV Wines (Delicato Family Vineyards)

European Winery of the Year: Symington Family Estates, Portugal

New World Winery of the Year: Villa Maria, New Zealand

Importer of the Year: E & J Gallo

Distiller of the Year: Casa Herradura, Brown-Forman

Retailer of the Year: Whole Foods Market

Winemaking Region of the Year: Rioja, Spain