The company "Ruffino S.R.L." consists of a number of wineries and cellars. The headquarters are in the town of Pontassieve, east of Florence in Tuscany. It was founded in 1877 by cousins Ilario and Leopoldo Ruffino with the aim of "producing the ideal wine". In 1913, the business was acquired by Italo and Francesco Folonari. From 1890 Ruffino was the official supplier of the Italian Royal Family. It is said that the composer Giuseppe Verdi (1813-1901) was one of Ruffino's regular customers. As a result, the estate grew enormously. Despite the great success of the Super Tuscans, Ruffino feels committed to the heritage of the Chianti Classico. They have been instrumental in the new definition of the quality pyramid peak "Gran Selezione", for which the wine "Riserva Ducale Oro" was the inspiration.
In 2000, the extensive estate was divided. The former ancestral estate Nozzole near Greve is now owned by Ambrogio Folinari. Since 2011, Ruffino S.R.L. has been 100% owned by the US group Constellation Brands. The company employs 290 people and had a turnover of € 101 million in 2022. The estate comprises seven wineries in Tuscany (Greppone Mazzi, Gretole, La Solatia, Montemasso, Poggio Casciano, Santedame and, since 2023, one in Bolgheri) and two in Veneto (Ca' del Duca, La Duchessa) with around 40 labels.
The protection of the environment and biodiversity (species diversity) with the help of sustainable cultivation and production methods in the vineyard and winery is a fundamental part of the company's philosophy. In 2018, the wineries were awarded the "Biodiversity Friend Certification of the "World Biodiversity Association". By 2025, all 610 hectares of own vineyards (with 25% production share) are to be converted to organic viticulture. The supplier farms will also be certified as organic or at least sustainable by 2025.
The extensive product range includes red wines, white wines, rosé wines, sparkling wines, spirits and dessert wines as well as olive oil. The premium wines include above all various versions of the Chianti Classico from the three wineries Montemasso, Gretole and Santedame. The famous "Riserva Ducale Tradizionale" is blended from 80% Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. It has been produced since the 1927 vintage and is the only wine in Italy that is allowed to bear the word "Riserva" twice on the bottle label with special permission.
It bears this name due to the fact that the Duke of Aosta (majordomo of the Italian king) used to buy "Chianti Stravecchio" (the name at the time) from Ruffino for the court and for himself since 1890. The barrels were marked "riservato per il Duca" (reserved for the Duke). From 1927, with the permission of the ducal family, this wine was allowed to call itself "Chianti Stravecchio Riserva Ducale". It was not until the introduction of the quality level "Riserva" in the DOC regulations that the designation "Riserva Ducale Chianti Classico DOCG Riserva" emerged.
The DOCG wine "Chianti-Classico Riserva Ducale Oro", which has been produced since the 1947 vintage, has been classified as Gran Selezione since the 2014 vintage and comes from the best sites in Castellina in Chianti area. Other DOCG wines are "Chianti Classico Santedame", "Chianti Ruffino" and the Brunello di Montalcino "Greppone Mazzi". The product range is completed by the IGT wines"Alauda"(Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Colorino), "Modus" and "Modus Primo" (both with one third each of Sangiovese, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon). A total of around 30 million bottles of wine are produced annually.
