US History of Riunite and Banfi Vintners

Founded in 1919, Banfi Vintners enjoys the distinction of being America’s longest standing independent and family run wine importer. Connecticut-born Giovanni Mariani spent a decade of his youth in Italy under the tutelage of his aunt Teodolinda Banfi, governess for the Archbishop of Milan who later became Pope Pius XI. She was the first woman, other than nuns, ever permitted to live in the Vatican’s Sistine Palace. Characterized as conscientious, tireless and disciplined, she inspired the same attributes in her nephew and his descendants. In the 1950’s, Giovanni’s sons John and Harry joined and expanded Banfi. The Marianis studied the French model to raise the level of Italian wines on the world stage. At the same time, they weaned the American palate from fruit juice and soft drinks to pure and natural wine to accompany meals. With the 1967 introduction of Riunite Lambrusco, a historically semi-dry lightly sparkling wine, Riunite quickly became an American phenomenon, introducing millions to their first taste of wine and igniting the country’s love affair with Italian wine. With the memorable jingle “Riunite on Ice, That’s Nice,” Riunite became America’s #1 imported wine in 1976 and held that position for a remarkable 26 years, setting sales records that remain unmet by any other import. Today, Banfi Vintners remains one of the country’s top ten wine marketers and a leading importer of fine wine, representing a portfolio of family-owned wineries that are category leaders in their own right.

Click here to take a trip through history and view our commercials that date back to 1977. Sit back, sip a glass of Riunite, enjoy the ride through time and remember “Riunite On Ice… That’s Nice.”