In recent years, Ruffino has invested heavily in extensive environmental work that includes both the production process and new organically grown vineyards. As part of this, they are now launching a number of organically certified wines. Ruffino Prosecco Treviso and Ruffino Pinot Grigio delle Venezie are currently available on the Swedish market. In mid-June, Ruffino Chianti will be launched, also organically certified. BKWine Magazine’s Ola Öhlund was at the launch.
Ruffino has a long history as a producer of wines from Tuscany. For over 140 years, they have supplied wine to Italy and to the rest of the world. One who was early to like Ruffino’s wines was Gustav VI Adolf, the late Swedish king. He gave Ruffino a royal warrant of appointment to supply wines to the royal house in 1960. Today, Ruffino is a big producer with more than 800 hectares of vineyards on a number of properties, mainly in Tuscany.
In recent years, great efforts have been made on extensive environmental work. In 2018, Ruffino bought Poderi Ducali, a property with more than 126 hectares of organic vineyards in the Prosecco area. A conversion to organic farming has also begun in Greppone Mazzi in Montalcino and Poggio Casciano in Chianti.
The new organic wines were launched together with stone-oven-baked Neapolitan pizza, signed Giovanni Santarpia, a genuine pizzaiolo from Naples. He is known for having previously run the critically acclaimed Santarpia restaurant in Florence. To celebrate the launch he had created a Scandinavian pizza with smoked buffalo mozzarella, salmon and mashed potatoes which was served together with the red 2011 Ruffino Riserva Ducale Oro (~30 euro). An unexpected but successful combination.
Before the food arrived we were served a Ruffino Prosecco Treviso Organic Brut (~12 euro). A successful aperitif with tropical tones of tutti-frutti, pineapple and melon. The taste is dry with a touch of pear and some marzipan. The wine comes from Ruffino’s new property Poderi Ducali in the Prosecco area.
With the pizza Margherita came the white Ruffino Pinot Grigio Delle Venezie Organic 2018 (~12 euro). The wine tempts you with a fruity nose of yellow stone fruit, pears and a certain floral character. The taste is dry with a mineral feel. The wine marries well with the Margherita’s straight-forward flavours.
The red entry wine Ruffino Chianti (~10 euro) was previously sold in the classic bass bottle, fiasco, which became a symbol of wines from Chianti. The straw cover was originally a way of protecting the bottle during a long journeys but it was abandoned in the 80’s because the bottle became associated with cheap substandard chianti. In June, the 2018 vintage will be launched, which will be the first organic version of Ruffino’s Chianti. The nose has cherry, raspberry, herbs and liquorice. The wine has a relatively light body and a refreshing acidity which combines well with the pizza Vegetariana served with the wine. It is a not too sophisticated everyday wine produced in a clean and very drinkable style.
Ola Öhlund writes on BKWine Magazine on wine tastings with wine merchants and importers.
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