Ruffino

In 1877 when cousins Ilario and Leopoldo Ruffino embraced their passion for winemaking by establishing a small winery in the town of Pontassieve near Florence, the region already had a centuries-old tradition of growing exceptional wine grapes. Even so, the two Tuscan natives felt certain that much of the area’s greatness had yet to be revealed. Tuscany had been heaped with good fortune--mineral-laden soils, the cooling influence of the Medite...

Poggio Casciano

Our Poggio Casciano estate is located in the Tuscan hills outside the village of Grassina, just a few miles from Florence. ‘Poggio’ is the Tuscan word for a terraced hilltop, which perfectly describes the terrain. The name ‘Casciano’ is said to derive from Cassius, a commander in the ancient Roman army who was granted large land holdings in the region.
At this estate, antiquity and modernity blend beautifully. A 14th centur...

More than 130 years ago, our founders Leopoldo and Ilario Ruffino were among the first in Tuscany to recognize that the best wines come from the best vineyards. We honor that philosophy today as we meticulously choose top vineyard sites, carefully manage the vines and the yields, and use non-interventionist practices in both our vineyards and in winemaking. Because we start with the best quality of fruit, Ruffino wines reveal themselves withou...

The Legend of Chianti’s Black Rooster

The Black Rooster seal is the symbol of the Chianti Classico Wine Consortium, an organization founded in 1924 to protect and promote this venerable wine.
Why a black rooster? The cities of Florence and Siena had long feuded over rights to the Chianti region, where red wine had been produced for centuries. Around 1200 A.D., they agreed to end the feud with a competition. A horseman would depart from eac...