Ruffino

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.

Book a visit 8 experiences · from €40

About Ruffino

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

Ruffino on the Tuscany wine atlas

Anchored in Chianti Classico, the editorial heart of Tuscany.

Via Poggio al Mandorlo 1, Loc. Quarate, 50012 Bagno a Ripoli, Firenze (Toscana)
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Visit & Experiences

8 bookable experiences at Ruffino

4 tastings, 3 tours, and 1 stay, checked by our editors. From €40.

Hosted by the estate8 available

Casa Ruffino Wine Tour at Ruffino Tour

Casa Ruffino Wine Tour

1h From €40 per person

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.

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via Winalist

Casa Ruffino Signature Wine Tour at Ruffino Tour

Casa Ruffino Signature Wine Tour

1h 30 From €60 per person English and Italiano

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.

Casa Ruffino Cooking Class at Ruffino Food Pairing

Casa Ruffino Cooking Class

3h From €190 per person

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.

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via Winalist

Casa Ruffino Signature Wine Tour at Ruffino Tour

Casa Ruffino Signature Wine Tour

1h 30 From €90 per person

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.

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via Winalist

Premium Wine Tasting & Tour at Tenute Ruffino near Florence at Ruffino Tasting & Tour

Premium Wine Tasting & Tour at Tenute Ruffino near Florence

1h From €40 per person English and Italiano

Visit Ruffino's historic winery and taste three iconic Tuscan wines paired with estate olive oil.

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via Winedering

Ruffino Timeless Garden Wine Experience at Ruffino Tasting & Tour

Ruffino Timeless Garden Wine Experience

From €40 per person English and Italiano

Visit Casa Ruffino's historic winery and enjoy a garden tasting of three iconic Ruffino wines.

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via Winedering

Stay at Wine Relais Ruffino at Ruffino Accommodation

Stay at Wine Relais Ruffino

Eight double rooms in the Renaissance villa at Casa Ruffino, with an infinity pool looking over the vines and breakfast cooked by local chefs.

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on ruffino.it

Lunch or dinner at Tre Rane at Ruffino Food Pairing

Lunch or dinner at Tre Rane

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.

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on ruffino.it

Enoteca Ruffino at Ruffino Experience

Enoteca Ruffino

The estate wine shop at Casa Ruffino, selling the full Ruffino range plus old vintages and limited bottles.

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Not bookable online yet

Tours that visit RuffinoRun by a tour operator. The estate is one stop of several. Booking completes on the platform that runs the tour.

From Bologna: Chianti wine Experience with lunch

8 hours From €650 per person
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ruffino.it/
Via Poggio al Mandorlo 1, Loc. Quarate, 50012 Bagno a Ripoli, Firenze (Toscana)

What Ruffino makes

Ruffino's current bottle selection is led by Toscana IGT. The clearest grape signal comes from Sangiovese and Merlot.

Common questions

  • Yes. Visits centre on Casa Ruffino at the Poggio Casciano estate, ten minutes from Florence. You can book a tour and tasting, eat at the Tre Rane restaurant, browse old vintages in the wine shop, or stay the night in one of eight rooms.
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