Modus
⏳ Drinking Window
2022 - 2028
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
Slow-braised beef short ribs, wild boar ragu with pappardelle pasta, and aged Pecorino cheese.
✨ Technical Specifications
Ruffino Modus, first released in 1997, is a premier Super Tuscan blend that represents a harmonious 'method' (the Latin meaning of 'modus') of combining native and international grape varieties. Crafted from Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Merlot grown on the rocky, clay-rich soils of the Poggio Casciano estate near Florence, this wine showcases the modern renaissance of Tuscan winemaking. Each grape variety is harvested and vinified individually, then aged for approximately 12 months in French and American oak barrels before the final artful blend is created. The result is a rich, full-bodied red that honors Ruffino's legacy—founded in 1877 by cousins Ilario and Leopoldo Ruffino—while embracing a contemporary, globally acclaimed style.
🍾 About the Producer
Established in 1877 by cousins Ilario and Leopoldo Ruffino in Pontassieve near Florence, Ruffino is one of Tuscany's defining historic houses, instrumental in introducing classic Chianti to the international arena. Originally honored as official suppliers to the Italian royal court, the estate expanded significantly under the Folonari family before becoming the Italian flagship for Constellation Brands. Today, Ruffino oversees hundreds of hectares spanning iconic Tuscan terroirs—including Chianti Classico, Montalcino, and Bolgheri—as well as estates in the Veneto. Vineyard holdings feature galestro- and alberese-rich marls, limestone, and clay terraces situated at optimal elevations with warm, sun-drenched diurnal shifts. Under chief winemaker Gabriele Tacconi, viticulture emphasizes complete organic certification and rigorous biodiversity standards. The estate's stylistic identity balances traditional Tuscan structural depth with polished precision, anchored by historical benchmarks such as Chianti Classico Riserva Ducale, the Gran Selezione benchmark Riserva Ducale Oro, the Super Tuscan Modus, and fresh regional expressions like Lumina Pinot Grigio.