Santedame
⏳ Drinking Window
2023 - 2030
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
Slow-cooked wild boar ragu with pappardelle, grilled Bistecca alla Fiorentina, or aged Pecorino Toscano cheese.
✨ Technical Specifications
Nestled in the prestigious Conca d'Oro of Castellina in Chianti, Ruffino's Santedame estate is steeped in Tuscan history and natural beauty. The estate takes its name from a 15th-century fresco of the Madonna ('Santedame') found in a historic chapel on the property. This Chianti Classico is crafted predominantly from Sangiovese, grown in soils rich in galestro and alberese. The unique microclimate of Castellina, with its warm days and cool nights, imparts a vibrant acidity and elegant structure to the wine. Aged in traditional oak casks, Santedame represents a harmonious blend of classic Tuscan winemaking heritage and refined modern elegance, showcasing bright red cherry, violet, and subtle spice notes.
🍾 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.
🍇 Grapes
Sangiovese (min 80%), Canaiolo, Colorino, Cabernet Sauvignon