NEW YORK (January 27, 2025) – Banfi Vintners, a leading Italian wine producer and importer of its family-owned fine wines, and Brother’s Bond Bourbon, a trailblazer in premium American whiskey, are proud to announce their strategic sales partnership. Through this collaboration, Banfi will serve as Brother’s Bond’s sales agency in the U.S., leveraging its extensive network and expertise.
“We are excited to welcome Brother’s Bond to our portfolio,” says Cristina Mariani-May, third-generation family proprietor and CEO of Banfi. “Their passion for sustainability, quality and vision aligns with our core values, and we are thrilled to showcase their exceptional quality nationwide. At Banfi, we remain committed to offering distinctive brands with unique stories to tell, and the stars have aligned with Brother’s Bond Bourbon.”
Co-founded by longtime friends, actors, and whiskey experts Ian Somerhalder and Paul Wesley, Brother’s Bond Bourbon has quickly established itself as a leader in the whiskey world with 29 industry awards and 90+ ratings. Its portfolio of small-batch, ultra-premium bourbon, and rye whiskeys includes the acclaimed Bottled in Bond, ranked among the Top 5 Bourbons globally. Brother’s Bond goes beyond exceptional taste by giving back a portion of proceeds to regenerative agriculture with every bottle purchase, supporting farmers transitioning to regenerative practices, and contributing to the restoration of over 34 million acres of healthy soil across the U.S. In 2024, Brother’s Bond introduced its first Regenerative Grain bourbon, furthering its commitment to sustainability.
“We chose Banfi Vintners as our exclusive U.S. sales partner because they are a prestigious and highly respected family wine company, known for their dedication to quality and tradition. Banfi’s impressive sales expertise, strong on-premise stature, and deep industry relationships match our strategic vision for growth,” said Vincent Hanna, co-founder and CEO of Brother’s Bond Distilling Company. “Their values perfectly align with those of Brother’s Bond Bourbon, sharing our principles of excellence and passion for the craft. This collaboration allows us to focus on what we do best: creating exceptional bourbon while reaching more consumers who share our passion for sustainability and quality.”
The news comes less than a year after the appointment of Jenn Engel as Chief Commercial and Strategy Officer. Engel joined Banfi with a bold vision to grow the business through strategic portfolio diversification, and this collaboration exemplifies that ambition. Together, the two companies aim to elevate Brother’s Bond’s presence in the U.S. marketplace, uniting their shared values of excellence, sustainability, and innovation.
This partnership marks Banfi’s first portfolio extension in over a decade, reflecting CEO Mariani-May’s stewardship of her company and her strategic approach to growth. “A lot goes into selecting a brand that fits in a family of brands as focused as ours,” explains Mariani-May. “The timing is right for us to welcome Brother’s Bond and Banfi’s future is incredibly bright.”
