Wine area
Chianti Classico
The galestro and alberese hills between Florence and Siena, where Sangiovese became Italy's most quoted red.
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Ruffino is one of the oldest names in Tuscan wine, founded in 1877 in Pontassieve, just east of Florence. It has made Chianti for nearly 150 years and once supplied the Kingdom of Italy. Its best-known wine is Riserva Ducale, named for the Duke of Aosta, and the first numbered Chianti DOCG strip went on a Ruffino bottle. Today its home for visitors is Casa Ruffino, a Renaissance villa estate in the hills ten minutes from Florence. The villa holds a restaurant, a wine shop and eight guest rooms.
Cousins Ilario and Leopoldo Ruffino set up their winery in Pontassieve in 1877, picking the spot for its rail links and its position near Chianti's vineyards. The wines travelled well and fast. In 1890 the Duke of Aosta came to visit, and Ruffino became official supplier to the Kingdom of Italy.
The duke's favourite wine became Riserva Ducale, the Duke's Reserve, first bottled under that name in 1927. After the Second World War came Riserva Ducale Oro, a gold-labelled Chianti Classico from the newly bought Montemasso estate. When Chianti earned its DOCG status, the very first numbered certification strip, AA00000001, went on a Ruffino bottle.
The company has grown into a family of Tuscan estates, from Montemasso, its first Chianti Classico property, to Greppone Mazzi in Montalcino. The Folonari family ran Ruffino for most of the twentieth century. Today it is part of Constellation Brands, the US drinks group.
The heart of it all is now Poggio Casciano, in the hills at Bagno a Ripoli south-east of Florence. Its vineyards climb to 320 metres and grow Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot, the grapes behind the Modus and Alauda reds. The villa, Casa Ruffino, holds a restaurant, a wine shop, eight guest rooms and a collection of design artworks.
Ruffino started its sustainability programme, Ruffino Cares, in 2017. The estates are moving to organic farming, and the company follows Italy's SQNPI integrated-agriculture scheme. It was certified Biodiversity Friends in 2018. Visits, tastings, cooking classes and stays can all be booked at Casa Ruffino.
Plate I · TUSCANY
Wine area
The galestro and alberese hills between Florence and Siena, where Sangiovese became Italy's most quoted red.
Winery
Bagno a Ripoli, Firenze · Chianti Classico
4 tastings, 3 tours, and 1 stay, checked by our editors. From €40.
Tour
Visit to the winery and tasting of three wines. The experience begins with a stroll through the winery, the true heart of the brand's production and history. This is followed by a tasting of three wines, representing the most important Tuscan appellations: Modus Toscana IGT, Riserva Ducale Oro Chianti Classico Gran Selezione DOCG, Greppone Mazzi Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, and our own olive oil. Enter the Ruffino style, a journey that reflects the inseparable bond between wine and design.
via Winalist
Tour
Stroll through the vineyards, visit the winery, and taste four wines. Walk through the estate's vineyards and visit the Casa Ruffino winery, the true heart of the brand's production and history. The tour will be followed by a tasting of four wines, expressions of a constantly reinventing tradition: Riserva Ducale Oro Chianti Classico Gran Selezione DOCG, Greppone Mazzi Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, Romitorio di Santedame Chianti Classico Gran Selezione DOCG, Modus Primo Toscana IGT, and our own olive oil.
Food Pairing
Cooking class in the Limonaia with lunch or dinner Discover our cooking classes in the charming Limonaia at Casa Ruffino, a bright and intimate setting where the aromas of seasonal ingredients meet the authenticity of Tuscan tradition. The experience begins with a welcome glass of wine and continues with a journey where you will be the protagonist in preparing a three-course menu, followed by savoring the dishes you have created, paired with two Ruffino wines.
via Winalist
Tour
Stroll through the vineyards, visit the winery, and taste four wines. Walk through the estate's vineyards and visit the Casa Ruffino winery, the true heart of the brand's production and history. The tour will be followed by a tasting of four wines, expressions of a constantly reinventing tradition: Riserva Ducale Oro Chianti Classico Gran Selezione DOCG, Greppone Mazzi Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, Romitorio di Santedame Chianti Classico Gran Selezione DOCG, Modus Primo Toscana IGT, and our own olive oil.
via Winalist
Tasting & Tour
Visit Ruffino's historic winery and taste three iconic Tuscan wines paired with estate olive oil.
via Winedering
Tasting & Tour
Visit Casa Ruffino's historic winery and enjoy a garden tasting of three iconic Ruffino wines.
via Winedering
Accommodation
Eight double rooms in the Renaissance villa at Casa Ruffino, with an infinity pool looking over the vines and breakfast cooked by local chefs.
on ruffino.it
Food Pairing
The estate restaurant at Casa Ruffino: seasonal Tuscan cooking a la carte, the full Ruffino list by the glass or bottle, and older vintages from the cellar. Lunch daily, dinner Tuesday to Saturday.
on ruffino.it
Experience
The estate wine shop at Casa Ruffino, selling the full Ruffino range plus old vintages and limited bottles.
Not bookable online yet
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Ruffino's current bottle selection is led by Toscana IGT. The clearest grape signal comes from Sangiovese and Merlot.
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