All wines reflect the land from which they come. The greatest wines are usually estate wines, born from grapes grown on a special plot of land and vinified right on the property under the watchful eyes of the owners themselves.
The wines of Ruffino are no exception. At Ruffino today, wine is produced at a number of individual estates, all owned by members of the Folonari family. These are known as The Tuscan Estates of Ruffino, or Tenementi Ruffino.
Together, The Tuscan Estates of Ruffino cover almost 5,000 acres, making Ruffino one of the most important land owners in Tuscany. Some 1,500 acres are available for vineyards, as the landscape is made up of hills, valleys and dense Mediterranean woods.
These estates - thought of as Ruffino's "crown jewels" - represent the winery's commitment to controlling wine quality all the way from the grape to the bottle.
Situated in the heart of Italy, the Tuscany region lends itself to producing superb wines. Its western shores are washed by the Mediterranean sea, which give it a far cooler temperature than Italy's sun-baked south. Also, it is more temperate than Italy's northern regions, which extend to the chilly Alps. Five of Tuscany's wine zones, Montepulciano, Montalcino, Carmignano, San Gimignano, and the Chianti Classico area, rank among Italy's most important wine-producing areas.

100 Years of History

The Ruffino winery was founded in Italy more than 100 years ago when two cousins with little background in wine began mining the region's riches. Ilario and Leopoldo Ruffino established I.L. Ruffino winery in 1877, purchasing raw wine from local growers (and producing some wine themselves), cellaring, finishing, bottling the wine, and selling it under the Ruffino name.
They met with near-instant success - their Chianti began winning gold-medal awards within four years. Throughout Italy and abroad, the name Ruffino quickly became associated with quality Chianti.
Years later, the cousins sought new ownership for their brand. Impressed with the quality and reputation of Ruffino wines, two brothers - wine merchants from northern Italy - purchased the winery in 1913. Their name was Folonari, and winemaking was in their blood. Francesco and Italo Folonari were third-generation wine merchants and national figures in Italy.
The Folonari family has nurtured Ruffino ever since, expanding its vineyard holdings and leading Ruffino into the modern era. More than 25 years ago, they sold their original Folonari winery and its name in order to focus their energies on their real priorities: the superior wines of Tuscany and the Ruffino brand.
The House of Ruffino heads into the next millennium with its hallmark mix of tradition and innovation.The viticultural skills that created Ruffino's classic vintages have recently borne fruit again - with innovative blends such as the Super Tuscans.
Today, with more than a century of success behind it, Ruffino is still privately owned by the Folonari family. It is a testament to their efforts that the Ruffino name remains famous throughout the world for the quality and prestige of its Tuscan wines.

The House of Ruffino / Tuscany / Italy


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