We see wine as a distillation, more powerful than words, of the traditions, history and beauty of this magical place. Making wine at CASTELLO DI SANTA RUFFINA means respecting the grapes that have been nurtured here every step of the way, from the harvest to the bottle. It’s by serving the grapes and by honouring their character that we are able to produce wines that seem to have gushed straight out of the generous rocky soil.
WINEMAKERS SINCE 1850 Castello di Santa Ruffina is one of the most representative wine producer in the Chianti area. With its gentle hills, velvety valleys and thick woodlands of oaks and chestnuts, the 900 hectares of property include 300 hectares of vineyards. This creates a continuous succession of colors and hues around the Santa Ruffina Castle, which is located within the town limits of Rufina. Since 1993, Mr. Cavallini has been guiding this central Tuscan company in innovative challenges. This has been done with the deepest respect for his renowned ancestors who have made this territory great, Antonio Cavallini first and foremost. Giuseppe Cavallini, current owner of the company, has generated new ideas and concepts to render the vineyards sustainable. The ongoing study of soil types and the clonal selection of the Sangiovese are among his greatest passions, and he has totally renovated the vineyards and completely mapped them. The new wines are therefore the expression of research carried out with the same scientific rigor of his illustrious ancestor but with a contemporary spirit, like a runner receiving the baton and carrying it forward with renewed energy.
THE CASTLE “The castle and the hills embracing it are suffused with history and atmosphere, a story to discover…” Originally built to defend the area around it, like a watch tower over one of the Roman era’s main roads – Via Cassia Imperiale, built by Emperor Hadrian in 123 A.D. – today it is set deep in Chianti’s characteristic hills and forests, watching over its precious vineyard and olive grove heritage stretching out over the Rufina valley. Its long L-shaped body, its characteristic tower in the centre of the façade, and its historic Guelph battlements conjure up beauty and history packed medieval castles for visitors. The current Castle was built in the 16th century. The original medieval castle was sacked, burnt down and destroyed at the end of the 15th century. Its walls were almost entirely dismantled with only the part overlooking the valley remaining, and still visible today, and partly supporting the subsequent building.
CHIANTI RUFINA “…Come to me, we’ll say a quick goodbye, from hills stretching into the distance, great tempestuous sea, and Chianti RUFINA, home of Ambrosian vines…” Chianti Rufina is one of the smallest of the Chianti sub-zones, producing far less wine than Chianti Colli Senesi and Chianti Classico, so you’ll be (just about) forgiven for never hearing of its beauty. Rufina is a Tuscan town 30 kilometres northeast of Florence. While it is not a town of extraordinary beauty, the grapes that grow on the hills in the soul-soothing surrounding countryside make some of Tuscany’s finest wines. Some say that Rufina should drop its Chianti tag, since it could stand proudly as “Rufina” alone for the quality of its wines long before it became “Chianti Rufina” in 1932. Rufina’s red wines have long been highly regarded and noted as having great strength, concentration and structure. Wine critics today agree that the wines from this area can be counted amongst the most complete and satisfying wines of Tuscany. In Rufina the ground is very similar to that of premium-quality Chianti Classico, a mix of Galestro and Albarese. But Chianti Rufina’s USP is actually its location, 400 metres above sea level on the lower slopes of the Apennines. During the day the
vineyards are naturally tilted, vines inclined like sunbathers. At night the temperature drops dramatically as cool breezes sweep through the Sieve valley. This change between day and night temperatures has a remarkable effect on the grapes. The leaves absorb the sunlight and warmth throughout the day: mini solar panels hard at work helping the grapes to ripen. At night the cool temperatures preserve the aromatics and natural acids in the fruit, resulting in a blissful balance of sweet ripe fruit with high acidity to keep the sweetness in check and extend their life expectancy. The wines have a sense of verticality; poised, precise, upright wines, quite right in this rather more mountainous than hilly area. Chianti Rufina is a red wine and typically a blend of red grape varieties. It must consist of at least 70 percent Sangiovese. Producers are still allowed to follow the original Chianti recipe designed in the mid-nineteenth century and blend with 10 percent of white grapes, although it is rare for producers to do so.devastating vineyard pest, phylloxera, from Europe to Italy along with his special vine cuttings.
THE WINES “…My tongue be clever, taste this other Robust wine, which boasts Of having been born in the midst of Chianti…” Alessandro Montecchio hinged his company philosophy on making certain special selections which grew out of an indepth study of the special features of our own vineyards, with the goal of exalting its characteristics to the full together with the potential of the various varieties grown, with a fairly limited yield per hectare. Wines are divided into two product ranges. Castello di Santa Ruffina is a range of wines made from grapes from our own vineyards. It included Rufina DOCQ, Chianti Classico and Chianti Classico Riserva, single vineyard wines, a Vin Santo and two sparkling wines.A second range consists of wines also made with bought-in grapes, made with the same attention to detail and skill as the first range. Fast-forward a century and a quarter. Today all awardwinning Castello di Santa Ruffina wines are hand-harvested and created in Italy. The distinct flavors of the grapes can be attributed to the unique climate, soil and temperature of the region in which they are grown. Our goal is to capture those nuances so you will experience an authentic taste of Italy in every glass of Castello di Santa Ruffina.
CASTELLO DI SANTA RUFFINA
SAN GIOVESE + MERLOT 2011
WINE TYPE RED
BODY MEDIUM
NOTES OAK, BERRIES
PAIRING BISTECCA, LAMB, PORK VINTAGE 2011
GRAPES 82% SAN GIOVESE 18% MERLOT
ALCOHOL 14%
Climate The winter of the growing season, mild in temperature and characterized by frequent rainfall, preceded a spring with above average temperatures, which favored a precocious bud-break, ten days earlier than usual in both grapes varieties. The summer, tendentially warm and dry but without peak temperatures, assisted the vines in a slow and gradual growth, guaranteeing an excellent start to the ripening process. The harvest began with the Merlot in early September and terminated with the Sangiovese around mid-October. Vinification The Sangiovese grapes underwent a fermentation aimed at conservation of the aromas and freshness of the fruit. After approximately ten days of maceration on the skins during the fermentation, the wine went into large oak casks where it went through a complete malolactic fermentation and began an aging period which lasted twelve months. After bottling, which took place in the spring of 2017, the wine was given an additional twelve months period of aging before commercial release. Tasting notes An intense ruby red in color, the wine offers fruity aromas with notes of violets and vanilla. The palate is ripe, supple, balanced and with tannins supported by a pleasurable vein of acidity, which brings out the flavors of blackberries and cherries. Persistent and mineral on the finish and aftertaste.
CASTELLO DI SANTA RUFFINA
CHIANTI CLASSICO 2012 WINE TYPE RED
BODY FULL
NOTES OAK, BERRIES
PAIRING BISTECCA, LAMB, PORK VINTAGE 2012
GRAPES 90% SAN GIOVESE 10% CABERNET
ALCOHOL 14,5%
Climate After a mild and dry autumn, the winter of 2012 in Chianti Classico was characterized by cold temperatures and normal rainfall, above all in the months of January and February. During the first half of February, in particular, temperatures dropped and snow fell without, however, damaging the vines. Spring began with rather cool and dry weather, causing a slight delay in bud burst and flowering compared to previous years. Vinification The grapes were destemmed and given a soft pressing. The fermentation went at a fast pace, very helpful in achieving clean and focused aromas; the period of skin contact lasted approximately twelve days and was marked by extraction techniques aimed at maximum color and suppleness of tannins. Fermentation temperatures were held to a maximum of 86° Fahrenheit (30° centigrade). The blend created was aged in oak until the spring of 2014, using recipients of various sizes: 60% casks and 40% barrels. Tasting notes The nose shows notes of red berry fruit, particularly red currants and raspberries. Light oak notes fuse with spicy sensations, cinnamon and candied fruit. The flavors are balanced, with the light and tonic acidity typical of the Sangiovese grape and silky and vibrant tannins which give additional pleasure on the finish. which brings out the flavors of blackberries and cherries.
CASTELLO DI SANTA RUFFINA VERMENTINO + TREBBIANO
2010 WINE TYPE WHITE
BODY LIGHT
NOTES FRUITY
PAIRING FISH, CHICKEN, SALAD VINTAGE 2010
GRAPES ALCOHOL 80% VERMENTINO 12% 20% TREBBIANO
Climate The winter of the growing season, mild in temperature and characterized by frequent rainfall, preceded a spring with above average temperatures, which favored a precocious bud-break, ten days earlier than usual in both grapes varieties. The summer, tendentially warm and dry but without peak temperatures, assisted the vines in a slow and gradual growth, guaranteeing an excellent start to the ripening process. The harvest began with the Merlot in early September and terminated with the Sangiovese around mid-October. Vinification The Sangiovese grapes underwent a fermentation aimed at conservation of the aromas and freshness of the fruit. After approximately ten days of maceration on the skins during the fermentation, the wine went into large oak casks where it went through a complete malolactic fermentation and began an aging period which lasted twelve months. After bottling, which took place in the spring of 2017, the wine was given an additional twelve months period of aging before commercial release. Tasting notes An intense ruby red in color, the wine offers fruity aromas with notes of violets and vanilla. The palate is ripe, supple, balanced and with tannins supported by a pleasurable vein of acidity, which brings out the flavors of blackberries and cherries. Persistent and mineral on the finish and aftertaste.
PRIZES “Fermentation, bottling and ageing. The secret is care, love and dedication.” Our Chianti Classico Castello di Santa Ruffina 2015, I.G.P. won the GOLD Award in internationally recognised competitions – the MUNDUS VINI International Wine Award 2017, the result of which is going to be presented during ProWein 2017. And it is awarded the special award “Best of Show Chianti Riserva” as the best wine of its category. A highly qualified international jury comprising oenologists, wine-makers, professional wine traders, sommeliers and expert journalists taste the wines, sparkling wines and fortified wines in ‘blind’ tasting rounds. Wines were arranged in a tasting according to their product category, origin, quality level and flavour, and evaluated in accordance with the international 100-point scheme of the International Organisation of Vine and Wine (OIV), also recognised by the Union Internationale des Oenologues (UIOE). The number of products destined to receive prizes in the competition is limited to 40% of the samples submitted with the highest points tally reached in their relevant category. In total, the 200 members of our jury awarded this year 33 of the coveted Grand Gold, 1043 Gold and 1392 Silver medals. Our wine passed this test with flying colours!
CONTACT The winery is situated in a pitoresque scenario. The castle is built in the top of Montecchio Hill among velvety valleys and thick woodlands of oaks and chestnuts, the 900 hectares of property include 300 hectares of vineyards.
TORINO
MILAN
VENICE BOLOGNA
FLORENCE
ROMA
SARDEGNA
ITALY
SICILY
HOW TO REACH US Take the SR 222 road going south in the direction of Greve in Chianti. After about 18 km, passing through Grassina, Strada in Chianti and Chiocchio, arriving in the village of Greti you will find our wine shop on the right side – with a large sign Castello di Santa Ruffina on the roof – which is also the reception for the rooms. Turn right and drive up thehill for 2 km, there you will find the Castle. CASTELLO DI SANTA RUFFINA Via Citille, 32A Località Greti 50022 Rufina (FI) - Italy InfoLine: +39 055 832 1803
castellodisantaruffina.com