On 4th July 2013 we were very proud to have been one of 25 Montalcino wineries that participated in a fund-raising evening organised by Fabio Tassi and Mercedes Benz at the Fortezza di Montalcino. Over 200 people were seated within the 14th century walls for a memorable and convivial evening. Guests included Montalcino dignitaries and producers, journalists, wine experts and sport and fashion celebrities, cycling champion Francesco Moser, Massimo Ferragamo and the stylist Ermanno Scervino.

The participating wineries (Antinori, Biondi Santi, Banfi, Casanova di Neri, San Filippo, San Polo, Siro Pacenti, Gaja, Frescobaldi, Fuligni, Ciacci Piccolomini, Costanti, Castiglion del Bosco, Poggione, Talenti, Canalicchio di Sopra, Fanti, Le Ragnaie, Argiano, Col d'Orcia, Mastroianni and Il Palazzone) donated wine for an auction to raise funds for a new school bus for Montalcino.  The evening was compered by indigenous Fabio Tassi and by the world-famous Tuscan chef and butcher, Dario Cecchini (anyone read Heat?)

Over 20.000 Euros were raised thanks to exceptional purchases by Massimo Ferragamo, Diego della Valle, Alessio Vinci, James Suckling and the Chinese collector Anthony Zhang. Montalcino’s school buses cover an amazing 600 km a day (372 miles) so the success of this event is wonderful news for local parents and for the children who will ride in the glorious new bus.