It is not uncommon to find the vineyards of California named for the Italian immigrants who settled in the fertile valleys and planted grapevines as far back as the mid-19th century. Names like Sebastiani, Mondavi, Giumarra, Foppiano and Pedroncelli dot the landscape and agricultural history books like spots on a Dalmatian. But what about an American of Italian heritage going to Italy and starting a vineyard. And not just any vineyard — one of the most pre-eminent vineyards in the most prestigious region in the country. It might surprise you to find out that is exactly what John Mariani Jr. and his brother, Harry, did when they founded Castello Banfi in the Brunello region of Montalcino, Tuscany.

In 1967, John Jr. and Harry, sons of famed wine importer John Mariani Sr., introduced the Italian wine, Lambrusco, to the U.S. market under the Riunite label, and it was an instant success. Within a few years, Riunite became the nation’s leading wine import and established their firm as one of the dominant wine import houses in the world. In 1978, the brother’s “impossible dream” was achieved when they returned to their grandparents’ homeland to establish the Castello Banfi vineyard estate. The Marianis gathered several of Europe’s most well-known winemakers to consult on the project and it was decided to introduce grape varieties such as cabernet sauvignon and merlot in the area to take advantage of the various microclimates on the estate, a unique concept at the time.