Mapping MONTALCINO

Edition 22 of Montalcino Jazz & Wine will bring seven jazz concerts to Brunello town. The first two are held in the courtyard of Castello Banfi (small space, make sure to book in advance, details below), while t he concerts from July 10 to 14, 2019 will happen in Montalcino's fortress, the long-standing, spacious festival venue und the Tuscan stars.  Montalcino Jazz & Wine 2019 The incredible Dee Dee Bridgewater, a frequent guest at Umbria Jazz, will be in Montalcino this year with her new program dedicated to Josephine Baker. Another big name is Grammy award nominated Canadian saxophonist Ben Wendel (who played at the Incontri festival in Val d'Orcia a few years ago) together with Mexican drummer, singer and composer Israel Varela.  Montalcino Jazz & Wine - July  As every year, the excellent Italian jazz scene is present on several nights with Rosario Giuliano, the Flavio Boltro trio, the Roberto Gatto quartet and Dario Deidda together wi...

Montalcino Jazz & Wine, July 12 to 22, 2018 All concerts start at 9.45pm in Montalcino's fortress, apart from the pre-concert on Ju ly 12 which will take place in the courtyard of Castello Banfi.  Banfi's courtyard can get jammed, but there is always space at the fortress even if you arrive late. However, if you want a table close to the stage, be sure to make a reservation via Montalcino's tourist office.  Phone : +39 0577 849331;  email:  info@prolocomontalcino.com  

In the summer of 1999 I arrived in Montalcino as a young Swiss woman traveling on her own. I expected beautiful views, great wines and sultry summer nights - but I had no idea that those nights would be accompanied by the soundtrack of a young and little-known Jazz festival with an incredible lineup.  Nearly two decades have passed and I'm still here, but many things have changed: I have two kids (with an Italian, of course), wrote a book  - music plays a big part in it too - about a side of Tuscany that is hardly known and Italy has been stuck for years in an economic crisis which saw harsh cuts to the funding of the country's cultural life. However, the first music festival I ever attended in Tuscany is still here and still going strong.  Founded in 1997, Montalcino Jazz & Wine celebrates its 20th anniversary this July. I'll be toasting along with lots of wine, as the week of world-class Jazz in Montalcino's medieval fortress has been making up for man...

Montalcino jazz and wine 2015 The program of the 18th edition of Montalcino Jazz & Wine brings one of my favorite Italian musicians to Brunello town on the evening of the 17th of July. Sergio Cammariere may not be known as well as Paolo Conte out of Italy, but his music will definitely be enjoyed by the fans of the latter.  The seven concerts of the 2015 festival have something for every taste: two Saudade inspired nights on the 14th and 19th of July and an evening in the footsteps of Django Reinhardt with French gypsy jazz guitarist Angelo Debarre on July 16. Debarre also offers a master class on the afternoon of July 15 (contact  marketing@banfi.it  if you'd like to participate).  For bepop lovers the highlight of the music festival in Brunello town will be the Cookers on July 18. The American members of the septet look back on half a century of jazz music played in the company of the most famous names of the genre (Art Blakey, Sony Rollins, Din...

(Looking for the program of Jazz & Wine 2015? Read on here .) Montalcino Jazz & Wine is in its 17th year and as usual the festival opens up at Castello Banfi, the initiator and main sponsor of the event. After the first two nights in the courtyard of the American Brunello winery, the concerts will take place in Montalcino's medieval fortress in the town center.  The great Danilo Perez ready to jam it in Montalcino this year Starting off with two Italian gigs at the Banfi winery, the festival works its way up to 'The Children of the Light', the trio of pianist and Grammy award winner Danilo Perez and closes with British jazz funk band Incognito.  MONTALCINO JAZZ AND WINE 2014 Courtyard of Castello Banfi (former Castello Poggio alle Mura) Aspettando il jazz - waiting for Jazz &Wine July 10 FABIO MARIANI – GIPSY THREE July 15 DEIDDA BROTHERS plus A. SRIANO e P. BISOGNO Fortress in Montalcino July 16 6 IN JAZZ -  TRIBUTE To LUCIO BATT...

Sagra del Tordo 2013 Archery contests, medieval gear, Tuscan wine and food and plenty of shouting around are at the base of the Sagra del Tordo , Montalcino's main village festival.  But what's it all about? Read Lisa Maria Annicchiarico's   top ten reasons why you should visit  and  join the Montalcinesi at their favorite festival. The Sagra del Tordo isn't just popular with the locals, so make sure you come early for parking and to avoid the queues at the food stalls. 

With all the talk about the importance bees have for everything on this planet , it's a relieve to hear that Italy still counts  75'000 beekeepers.   Meet some of them in Montalcino this weekend in September and taste a few of the country's 51 official types of honey. Some of the most popular in Tuscany are chestnut, wildflowers and acacia (my favorite!). And no need to say it, they taste best on top of a piece of Pecorino cheese from the Val d'Orcia .  Beehives and olive groves in Tuscany  SETTIMANA DEL MIELE - BEEKEEPERS WEEKEND IN MONTALCINO Fortezza (fortress): September 6-8, 2013 Honey tasting daily from 9 to 7pm Visits with Montalcino's beekeepers are organized during the weekend.  Honey and beer? Worth a try! Follow up the beekeepers festival with an Italian artisan beer in Buoconvento . 

As every year the depleting August heat is made more bearable by a village festival in Montalcino. L'Apertura delle Cacce (the opening of the hunting season) is celebrated on August 10 and 11, 2013 with folk music, archery contests and a pageantry parade.  Opening of the Hunting Season, program August 2013 SATURDAY, AUGUST 10 11.00 Folk music and dances in Piazza del Popolo 12.00 Drawing of the archers from the four city districts  17.45 Parade from piazza Cavour to Montalcino's fortress 18.30 Archery trial run on the football field (next to the fortress) SUNDAY, AUGUST 11 17.15 Medieval parade from Piazza Cavour to Montalcino's fortress 17.45 Benediction of the archers in front of the Sant'Egidio church 18.30 Archery competition between Montalcino's four neighborhoods on the football field  More information via Montalcino's tourist office . 

True to Montalcino's wine town status, we've just had a festival of  Jazz and wine , and plenty of classical music with wine (Musica Reale and  Amiatapianofestival goes Brunello ). Now all we need is Blues and wine. Plus food.  When I arrived in Tuscany over a decade ago, Camigliano - the beautiful hamlet to the south-west of Montalcino - used to run a fantastic Saturday night disco. Old and young (kids and their grandparents included) would shake it open air on the town square gone disco. Sadly, times have changed, but at least twice a year - during Camigliano Blues  and La Sagra del Galletto  - people still get a chance to move those limbs under the Tuscan stars.  As every year you can come early and eat truly homemade Tuscan, before Meez Pheet and Mike Sponza Blues connection will take the stage.  CAMIGLIANO BLUES - Montalcino, Saturday 27th of July 2013 Meez Pheet and Mike Sponza Blues Convention Dinner from 8pm. Concert fr...

The homebase of the Amiata piano festival has been for years in Poggi del Sasso near Cinigiano. Proud to have such a classy festival in the hills of my Tuscan 'hometown', I'm nevertheless happy to see that the Amiata Piano festival spreads its wings and takes in a new destination.  The first concert of Euterpe,  the second cycle of the summer festival, will take place in Montalcino's Sant'Agostino church,   which is home also to the town's art museum and the  Benvenuto Brunello  preview each February . The concert takes place here for a reason. The Bertarelli foundation - the main sponsor behind the Amiata piano festival - is also generously supporting the restoration of one of Montalcino's most beautiful churches.  Sant'Agostino church and Montalcino museum entrance Pianist and festival director  Maurizio Baglini  will celebrate the Verdi and Wagner year with works by the great composers performed together with a string quartet:  ...

July is Montalcino's festival month. One Jazz and two classical music festivals take place in Brunello town each summer, and the Banfi winery is involved in two of them.  Castello Banfi (formerly known as castello Poggio alle Mura), turns its courtyard into a stage for one of the concerts of the Melodia del Vino festival on Tuesday, the second of July. The winery opens its doors at 6.30 with a sumptuous aperitif and tastings of its wines. French pianist Marc Laforet and cellist Henry Demarquette will play Beethoven, Chopin and Schubert from 8.30 pm.  A good reason to arrive early: sunset at the Banfi winery On the 10th and the 16th of July two concerts of Montalcino Jazz & Wine will take place at Castello Banfi before the festival moves up to its stronghold in Brunello town. 

Jazz and Wine - one of the main events of a summer spent in Val d'Orcia The 16th edition of my favorite festival in Italy starts with three concerts in the courtyard of Castello Poggio alle Mura, the HQ of the Banfi winery. After that the festival moves on to its traditional home, Montalcino's imposing fortress right at the entrance of Brunello town.  WAITING FOR JAZZ & WINE AT CASTELLO BANFI The flyer of this year's Jazz & Wine  shows the pianist Bill Evans absorbed in his magical play. This even though piano solo and piano trios play a minor role in the 2013 edition of the festival than in previous years. Nevertheless, the program awaits us with some great names from the Italian and international Jazz scene.  26th of June STEFANO SABATINI TRIO Stefano Sabatini - piano Luca Pirozzi - bass Pietro Iodice - drums 10th of July  PAOLO RECCHIA - T hree for Getz Paolo Recchia - alto sax  Enrico Bracco - guitar Nicola Borrelli - bass 1...

The opening of Montalcino's summer music season  From June to August Montalcino becomes a festival hub for jazz, blues, pop and classical music. Montalcino Jazz & Wine and Musica Reale with Amsterdam Concertgebouw orchestra are the two most important and international events. Both of them happening in July.  More of a local affair, but still promising lots of fun is this weekend's Montalcino Music Circus. In its fourth edition, as all years the concerts take place in piazza Padella (the small square between Montalcino's tourist office and the town's theater), and you'll obviously also get something to drink.  MONTALCINO MUSIC CIRCUS 2013 June 14/15 2013, from 9.30pm

As every year Montalcino's Jazz and Wine festival takes its time with letting us know who'll be in town and who won't. So far there's only one thing set. The dates.  Be sure to book your hotel room in the week from Tuesday 16th to Sunday 21st of July 2013.  You don't make a down payment, unless you know the gig? If you're already out here in June or early July, look up the program of one of Montalcino's two twin cities when it comes to Jazz & Wine. Because, yes, Banfi and Brunello town aren't the only Italians to blend jazzy vibes with classy wines.  You know how some generations are full of Kevins and others abound with swarms of Jennifers? The same thing happens with festivals. In the 90s Italy gave birth to one Jazz & Wine festival after the other. And like the pairing of cheese and wine, the combination was meant to stay.  Montalcino's fortress: from medieval battlefield to Carnegie Hall

Over 50 years ago, the city of Montalcino started the Sagra del Tordo in an effort to boost the local economy. Since then the little Sagra with big hopes has outgrown its own name. Sagra , yes. The last weekend in October still offers the best in local dishes and vino , but it goes beyond that. You might call it a folkfest with parades in medieval costumes, traditional folk dancing and an exciting archery tournament between the quarters of Montalcino. Tordi , no. Thrush have become a protected species so they are no longer on the menu (much to local dismay). TOP TEN REASONS WHY YOU SHOULD COME TO THE SAGRA DEL TORDO (in no particular order. Well, not really.) 10. The excitement and rivalry in the air. During the settimana santa , the week leading up to the big festival, you can feel a buzz around town. Banners are hung on the old City Hall, flags are unfurled in the four quarters and people are genuinely happy spending all week tog...

Cinigiano has it and Scansanso  has been doing it for ever. The two Southern Tuscan villages have been celebrating the harvest of their wines ( Montecucco DOC and Morellino di Scansano DOC)  for the last 42 years. So how comes that one of the oldest DOC and DOCG areas of Italy doesn't have any festive event to honor the picking of its heavenly Sangiovese grapes? Looking perfect  Sangiovese grapes ready to turn into Brunello at the Fonterenza estate Things are going to change now. A group of dedicated Brunello drinkers has decided that 2012 is the year to organize Montalcino's first  festa della vendemmia  (harvest festival).  One of the highlights of the three day program is going to be the ABBA tribute show in Montalcino's fortress on Friday night. Hm... but n o, we won't be offended, if you didn't come all the way to Tuscany to listen to ABBA songs. Luckily, the festival has a few events in store, which may be more interesting for the...

View toward Montalcino's fortress, location of the honey fair People visit Montalcino to taste fabulous reds at Brunello wineries or to listen to Gregorian chants at the stunning Sant'Antimo abbey. Others just want to drive through the rolling hills of the Val d'Orcia or have discovered Montalcino as an ideal location for a celebrity break . But that's not all. Every second weekend in September Montalcino hosts the annual honey fair (settimana del miele), during which producers from all over Italy present their natural honeys. The lack of rain and the hot temperatures of summer 2012 have created diffiulties for wine and honey producers alike. Get the background information whilst you taste yourself through some of Italy's best honeys (e.g. the rare erica honey or some of Northern Italy's fine mountain honeys).

Even though the two big events of Montalcino's festival season ( JAZZ&WINE and MUSICA REALE ) already came to a close, music lovers are still in time to enjoy a few gigs and concerts in an around Brunello town this August. 

Montalcino's old town hall with bell tower and the theater (teatro degli Astrusi) to the left Every year in July Montalcino's lovely theater called teatro degli Astrusi is home to a classical music festival, that brings the soloists of Amsterdam's famous Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra to town. 

Castello Banfi at sunset It's summer and Montalcino knows it. July is an incredible month when it comes to live events and concerts in small  Brunello town .  This week the Melodia del Vino  festival will be guest at the Castello Banfi winery with famous  Russian violoncellist Alexander Kniazev. Tickets cost 23€ and include a wine tasting which will quite probably circle around Banfi Vintner's Brunello, S upertuscans and Banfi Brut (the winery's dry sparkling wine from Nothern Italy).   Wine tasting starts at 7pm, concert around 8.30pm.  Castello Banfi, Thursday July 5 - Melodia del Vino .  Earlier in the week you can dance off at Bar Le Logge (on Montalcino's main square opposite of Bar La Fiaschetteria ). DJ set with music from the 90s and a rich buffet make for a promising evening.  Bar Le Logge di Piazza - Wednesday July 4. On Thursday the party goes on at Kaffeina, which has been taken on by a new owner, who's starting...