Romitorio di Santedame

Country elegance - the charm of Colorino

Almost 20 years have passed since the first vintage of Romitorio di Santedame - 20 years since Ruffino started its experiments with the extraordinary Colorino on the Santedame Estate. Ruffino was the first Tuscan company to dedicate time and effort to this red grape variety.

Romitorio di Santedame is a truly unique wine. It is a symbol of the importance which Ruffino attributes to rediscovery and development of the indiginous Tuscan varieties. Both the bouquet and the tasting profile of this wine convey the splendid nature of its home country: It is volumptious, yet soothing, rustic, yet refined. A wine with character. A unique wine.

Romitorio di Santedame, 60% Colorino e 40% Merlot, was first produced in 1990 from grapes cultivated in the vineyards of the Santedame Estate, located just a few kilometres from Castellina in Chianti.

The name "Romitorio" is inspired by an antique hermitage dating back to the 13th century, around which the vineyard of this wine extends.

Romitorio di Santedame features an elegant, yet austere structure, just like the Colorino variety from which it is made. For many years this local variety had been almost forgot by Tuscan vintners. It was originally used in the Chianti and Chianti Classico blend for its high content of colour elements.

Ruffino was the first Tuscan producer to take an interest in Colorino and start to research and experiment the quality of this variety. The results have been more than encouraging.

When the Santedame Estate was acquired by Ruffino in 1988 a few hectares of land cultivated with Colorino and dating back to the sixties was discovered among the existing vineyards. It was on the initiative of Ruffino winemaker Mauro Orsoni that the first microvinifications of Romitorio di Santedame were performed and the surprising quality of Santedame's Colorino was tested.

In the beginning, this unusual wine seemed very tannic, almost unapproachable, because of its austere structure, but after a certain ageing period it developed into a fruity, lush, velvety wine with lots of character and elegance.

In the first Colorino vineyard a study programme was initiated in order to identify and multiply the best Colorino biotypes. They were then used to enlarge the Romitorio di Santedame vineyards.

In the course of this research it was also found that one of the presumed Colorinos was in fact a very particular biotype of Merlot. It had been erroneously mistaken for Colorino because it produces very small clusters and because both the grapes, the rasps and the leaves exhibit an intense, dark red colour - a feature normally associated with Colorino. This biotype of Merlot is currently being examined at the University of Milan in order to be listed as an individual clone.

ROMITORIO DI SANTEDAME TOSCANA IGT 2005

5 grappoli (5 bunches) - Italian Sommelier Association guide "Duemilavini" 2009
17/20, 4 bottiglie (4 bottles) - L'Espresso 2009
91/100 - Wine Spectator

ROMITORIO DI SANTEDAME TOSCANA IGT 2004

91/100 - Wine Spectator
2 bicchieri rossi (2 red glasses) - Gambero Rosso Vini d'Italia 2008
Vino dell'eccellenza - Annuario dei Migliori Vini Italiani Luca Maroni
92/100 Supertrestelle (Super 3 stars) - wine guide "I Vini di Veronelli" 2008
17.5/20, 4 bottiglie (4 bottles) - L'Espresso 2008
92 points - Wine Enthusiast
Commended - Decanter World Wine Awards 2008

ROMITORIO DI SANTEDAME TOSCANA IGT 2003

2 bicchieri (2 glasses) - Gambero Rosso Vini d'Italia 2007 (Italia)
92/100 - Wine News
91/100 - The Wine Advocate
5 grappoli (5 bunches) - Italian Sommelier Association guide "Duemilavini" 2007
Supertrestelle (Super 3 stars) - wine guide "I Vini di Veronelli" 2007
88/100 - Wine Enthusiast
Silver Medal - Japan Wine Challenge 2007
Silver Medal - International Wine Challenge 2007

ROMITORIO DI SANTEDAME TOSCANA IGT 2001

94/100 - Highly recommended - Wine Spectator
2 bicchieri rossi "2 red glasses" - wine guide Gambero Rosso "Vini d'Italia" 2004
5 Grappoli (5 bunches) - Italian Sommelier Association guide "Duemilavini" 2004
I Vini dell'Eccellenza (The Best Wines)- wine guide L' Espresso 2004
Super 3 Stelle "3 super stars"- wine guide "I Vini di Veronelli 2004"
Bronze Medal - Decanter Fine Wine Awards 2005
Silver Medal - Swiss Wine Contest Monde Selection 2005
4 Stars - Highly Recommended - Decanter Magazine
Bronze Medal - International Wine and Spirits Contest 2005
4/5 Scraton Times Tribune
4 Stars - Vinquebec.com