It was the year 1890 when the Duke of Aosta, crossing the Alps, finally came to taste this wine which in just 13 years was already so celebrated. He fell in love with it, so much so that he appointed Ruffino as supplier to the Royal House.
- Process: The careful selection of the grapes after pressing ferments for 8 days at a controlled temperature of 28°, with repeated pumping over, in steel vats. Maceration on the skins follows for approximately another 8 days. The malolactic transformation takes place in steel tanks, accentuating its velvety structure.
- Characteristics : ruby red in color with vague garnet reflections, it has a complex aroma of amaretto, ink, black cherries, spices, dark chocolate in a beautiful burst of elegance, with a final touch of leather, with a splendid taste, a Chianti sip that harmonizes strength and class, fruit and tannin, complexity and pleasantness. The elongated finish leaves a frank memory of Sangiovese; Beautiful drink characteristic of Tuscany, precious in its archetypal and brilliantly gastronomic development.
- Pairings : Colossal traveling companion of the classic dishes of Tuscan cuisine, triumphs with grilled meats but also with fresh and stuffed pasta combined with important sauces, including wild ones.
Data sheet
SIZE : 0.75 L bottles.
ORIGIN : Tuscany.
VARIETIES : 80% Sangiovese + other Chianti Classico vines.
ALCOHOLIC CONTENT : 14% vol.
SERVING TEMPERATURE: Temperature between 12/18°C.
STORAGE METHOD : In a cool place and away from sunlight.
PRODUCER : Ruffino srl - Pontassieve (FI).
SPECIFIC NOTES : Contains sulphites.
History of Ruffino Cellars
To trace the origins of Ruffino's history we must go back to 1877, when the Tuscan cousins Ilario and Leopoldo Ruffino discovered a vocation and a non-trivial ambition: to produce the ideal wine. Their project took shape in Pontassieve, a few kilometers from the sparkling Florence of the time, a few years earlier the provisional capital of the Kingdom of Italy. Ambitious, skilled and visionary, the Ruffinos had chosen a location favorable to transport for their winery, right astride the railway - one of the very first in Italy - and this contributed to supporting the already cosmopolitan soul of the company. Ruffino wine, modern and innovative, quickly made its way into the production of the time until its popularity exceeded national borders. Recognitions in France, such as the Gold Medal of Bordeaux in 1895, or the appreciation of great names such as Giuseppe Verdi as well as that of his people, with whom Ruffino showed closeness right from the start. The first change of ownership took place in 1913, when the Folonari family took the reins of the project. After going through the difficult years of the Great War, driven by the foresight of the Folonari family, Ruffino wine made its way to America, where it was appreciated to the point that it was even sold in pharmacies to overcome the barriers of prohibitionism. In the 1920s the history of Ruffino overlaps with that of Chianti: the two Consortia of Chianti and Chianti Classico are born and Ruffino builds its identity and bases its extraordinary development on those denominations. The first edition of the Riserva Ducale dates back to 1927, a name that is a tribute to the favor of the Duke of Aosta who already in 1890 had fallen in love with the "very old" one of memorable features, appointing Ruffino as supplier of the Royal House and "reserving" it a game. During the Second World War the now large Ruffino factory was mistaken for a production hub due to its location astride the railway and was heavily bombed. The moment is terrible but Ruffino has the strength to get up and rebuild together with the entire country. The post-war rebirth in Ruffino is symbolized by the birth of Riserva Ducale Oro, in 1947, the expression of a wonderful vintage and proof of how the best Chiantis could defy time. In the 50s and 60s Ruffino was a famous brand, and the stars of the time did not disdain a visit (and a photograph) to the cellar. These are the years of "La Dolce Vita" and Ruffino immediately positions himself as an expression of that authentic Italian art of living that the whole world was starting to look at. The pleasure of being together, conviviality, the joy of living have characterized Ruffino wines ever since, both at the center of simple wooden tables and on the tablecloths of refined restaurants. It was only a devastating natural event that momentarily interrupted its trajectory: on 4 November 1966 the Arno overflowed and with it the Sieve, victims also of the many bottles that would be seen floating in the murky flood waters. The following decades are still marked by development and innovation: the beloved fiasco gives way to the "Florentine bottle", and Ruffino is assigned the very first band of the new Chianti DOCG, "number 1": AAA00000001. But the change affects above all strategic choices: a process of acquisition of important Tuscan estates begins in the most suitable territories - Chianti, Montalcino, Montepulciano - embellished with villas and castles, but above all with owned vineyards. In 2011 Tenimenti Ruffino became part of the Constellation Group galaxy, strengthening its international vocation, but without losing that touch of Italian spirit that characterizes it profoundly.