Jazz & Wine in Montalcino
Jazz & Wine in Montalcino: unique settings for a summer of great jazz. From July 20 to 26 in Montalcino (Siena), the festival returns—a collaboration between the Banfi winery, the Rubei family of Rome’s Alexanderplatz, and the Municipality of Montalcino.
For its 29th edition, the program ranges from the energy of the Kenny Garrett Electric Band to the refined sounds of artists such as Danilo Rea, Enrico Rava, Stefano Di Battista, Rita Marcotulli, and Andy Sheppard
Jazz & Wine in Montalcino returns from July 20 to 26 at the picturesque venues of Castello Banfi and the Fortress of Montalcino, offering a week of great music that combines international jazz, musical fusion, and the region’s finest wines.
Now in its 29th edition, thanks to the collaboration betweenAlexanderplatz, Banfi, and the Municipality of Montalcino, Jazz & Wine in Montalcino brings some of the most prominent Italian and international jazz artists to the stage. Under the artistic direction of Eugenio Rubei, following in the footsteps of his father Giampiero’s vision, the festival presents a lineup ranging from the energy of the Kenny Garrett Electric Band to the refined sounds of artists such as Danilo Rea, Enrico Rava, Stefano Di Battista, Rita Marcotulli, and Andy Sheppard, including tributes to jazz tradition, Brazilian influences, and original projects featuring some of the most influential performers on the contemporary scene. A unique event celebrating the convergence of music, culture, and wine in the heart of Tuscany, it remains one of the most popular festivals with the public, enjoying steady growth.
Monday, July 20
The event kicks off on Monday, July 20, in the picturesque setting of Castello Banfi, featuring the Kenny Garrett Electric Band’s “Tribute to Miles Davis.” A saxophonist and composer from Detroit, Kenny Garrett is one of the most influential heirs to Miles Davis’s electric jazz: he joined Miles’s band in 1987 and became a key member until Davis’s passing in 1991. At Jazz & Wine, he brings his Electric Band with a tribute that draws directly from that legacy. Among his many awards is the title of NEA Jazz Master.
Tuesday, July 21
The program continues on Tuesday, July 21, again at Castello Banfi, with Danilo Rea and Doctor 3. Having performed at nearly every edition of the festival, Rea’s name has become synonymous with the event itself. A pianist of extraordinary sensitivity, he is the only Italian mentioned in Leonard Feather and Ira Gitler’s Biographical Encyclopedia of Jazz. With Doctor 3—the trio featuring Enzo Pietropaoli on double bass and Fabrizio Sferra on drums, founded in 1997 and named best jazz group by critics for three consecutive years—he brings to the stage at Castello Banfi all the power of a musical partnership unique in Italian jazz.
Wednesday, July 22
On Wednesday, July 22, again at Castello Banfi, for the third concert of the series, Hamid Drake meets Antonello Salis featuring Stefano “Cocco” Cantini & Rosario Bonaccorso . Hamid Drake, an American jazz drummer and percussionist who blends Afro-Cuban, Indian, and African influences into his free jazz collaborations. He takes the stage with Antonello Salis, one of the greatest soloists in Italian jazz, an innovator, and a creator of new expressive techniques of international renown. Rounding out the lineup are Stefano “Cocco” Cantini, a saxophonist who boasts prestigious collaborations, including with Chet Baker and Michel Petrucciani, and is the longtime organizer of the Grey Cat Festival, and Rosario Bonaccorso, a well-known double bassist and composer with a deeply emotional style.
Thursday, July 23
On Thursday, July 23, the festival moves to Montalcino, inside the historic Fortress, featuring the Stefano Di Battista Quintet with special guest Paco Sery in “We Love Miles.” A mainstay of Aldo Romano’s various groups and a member of Michel Petrucciani’s sextet, Di Battista released his first album in 1997 on the Label Bleu. In 1998, he signed his first contract with the legendary Blue Note. In Montalcino, he presents a tribute to the great artist, “We Love Miles.”
Friday, July 24
On Friday, July 24, the Jazz & Wine stage will feature one of the most recognizable and refined voices in contemporary bossa nova: Rosalia de Souza Bossa Band. Born in Rio de Janeiro, she has collaborated with legendary figures such as Roberto Menescal. She will perform in Montalcino with her new band as part of the 2026 Italian Tour.
Saturday, July 25
Saturday, July 25, promises to be an intense, elegant, and emotionally charged concert: the Rita Marcotulli Quartet featuring special guest Andy Sheppard. She is the most awarded and acclaimed Italian pianist in the world of jazz. At the helm of her quartet, she welcomes British saxophonist Andy Sheppard to create an original concert designed exclusively for Montalcino. This renews an artistic partnership spanning decades—refined and profound—in a continuous quest for sound that unites jazz, lyricism, and contemporary influences.
Sunday, July 26
The 29th edition of the festival wraps up on Sunday, July 26, with a bang: the Enrico Rava Quintet, “The Fearless Five,” takes the stage. Rava is undoubtedly the best-known and most internationally acclaimed Italian jazz musician. Always engaged in the most diverse projects, with a human and artistic candor that sets him apart from the norm, he has established himself as one of the most compelling soloists in European jazz. He brings his new project to Montalcino: a “fearless” quintet that combines the youthful, creative energy of the new generation of Italian jazz musicians with the bandleader’s vast experience.
Information
Artistic Director: Eugenio Rubei (Alexanderplatz Jazz Club in Rome, Sound&Image)
All Jazz & Wine performances in Montalcino will begin at 9:45 p.m.
Reservations: Vivaticket.com – Information line : 892 234