A Bold Move Unites an Italian Icon and Tuscan Winemaker for a New Era of Innovation
Florence, Italy (October 12, 2023) — Today, Ruffino announces the appointment of Olga Fusari as winemaker. The news marks yet another pivotal moment in Ruffino’s ambitious brand transformation and the winery’s continued experimentation with both traditional and innovative winemaking techniques. At Ruffino, Fusari will bring her experience making wine at the highest level to manage Ruffino’s fine Tuscan blends, including the Modus, Modus Primo and Alauda wines produced at the Poggio Casciano Estate as well as the newly acquired Bolgheri Estate.
Fusari is a graduate of Viticulture and Oenology from the esteemed University of Florence. Proudly Tuscan, she honed her professional expertise at Ornellaia, one of Bolgheri and Italy’s most renowned estates.
“I am impressed by Ruffino’s plans and enthusiasm, and I cannot wait to join them on this momentous journey,” said Olga Fusari, Winemaker at Ruffino. “I will continue to work with the grape varieties that I love – and with Bolgheri, an extraordinary region that is capable of producing wonderful wines that enabled me to grow professionally at a leading winery like Ornellaia, to which I can only express my gratitude.”
Ruffino continues to leverage their essence and 140-year mastery of fine red Tuscan winemaking in an endeavor to become the ultimate Tuscan fine wine house. The focus on excellence has become a key pillar and they have taken key steps in pursuing.
In March 2023, the winery announced the acquisition of new estate vineyards and the build-out of a state-of-the-art wine and hospitality center in Bolgheri. Ruffino has acquired a total of 15 hectares of vineyards, with the first vintage made from the estate being 2023, with the intention to release the first estate wine in 2025.
In May 2023, Ruffino established a winemaking council. This committee currently includes international expert winemakers such as Alberto Antonini as well as agronomist, Stefano Poni. They will oversee the development of all estate wines and work to further elevate the Tuscan wine house as a beacon of uncompromising quality.
“Just one year ago, Ruffino embarked on a once-in-a-lifetime brand transformation, and very happy with the foundation we’re building,” said Sandro Sartor, President, and CEO of Ruffino. “There is a bright future ahead, rooted in our illustrious past and I am certain that Olga will help us to produce even more harmonious and elegant wines that are representative of their various terroirs.”
ABOUT RUFFINO
Ruffino was founded in the heart of Tuscany in 1877 by cousins Ilario and Leopoldo Ruffino, who dreamed of bringing the “ideal wine” to tables around the world. For more than 140 years, Ruffino has been devoted to this dream, producing elegant, time-honored wines that set the standard for fine Tuscan wine and today are imported and enjoyed in over 80 countries worldwide.
Looking to the future, Ruffino is embarking on a momentous transformation to stand as a beacon of creative bravura, Italian savoir-faire, pioneering innovation and uncompromising quality that will elevate Ruffino and secure it as a cultural icon for generations to come. The transformation encompasses every aspect of the brand, from the vineyards and wineries to marketing and hospitality to a multi-year brand separation journey to establish Ruffino Estates as the ultimate Tuscan fine wine house and introduce Lumina as a leader in Italian sparkling wine and Pinot Grigio.
To learn more about Ruffino, visit www.ruffino.com or follow @ruffinowines on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter
