With its 246 hectares of land, Santedame is the largest of Ruffino's estates. 70 hectares are planted with vine.

The estate Sangiovese vineyards give fruit to a Chianti Classico bearing the name of the estate. This wine distinguishes itself by an intense fruity bouquet and a velvety structure.

The vineyards are positioned between 350 and 470 metres a.s.l. and the soil is poor, not very deep. This favours a very low yield of grapes.

The location is always quite windy and the elevated day-night temperature swings almost drive the grape maturation cycle to an extreme - among the longest in Chianti Classico. The long maturation cycle also determines the formation of lush, intense perfumes in the grapes.

A new Riserva has recently been created from a particular selection of grapes from Santedame's Sangiovese vineyards. This wine combines structure and tannins with wonderful abundant fruit - the prime character of the Santedame Sangiovese.

Yet Santedame is much more than Sangiovese. In the vineyards which extend around the "Romitorio" hermitage another one of Ruffino's most unique wines is produced: the Romitorio di Santedame, produced with Colorino and Merlot.

Both the Colorino and the Merlot from the Santedame Estate have characteristics much different from the usual clones found in the Chianti area. They are both of limited production, no more than 1 kg per plant; they are rich in tannins and generate highly aromatic, concentrated grapes.

Once Colorino was merely a part of the Chianti blend. In Romitorio di Santedame, it plays the leading role.