Ruffino,a renowned Italian winery founded in Tuscany in 1877, announced the introduction of its inaugural Ruffino Prosecco Doc. The release marks the first time in the brand's history that a sparkling wine has been added to the extensive Ruffino portfolio, world-renowned for its award winning Chianti wines.

With a suggested retail price of $14.99, Ruffino Prosecco is an affordable luxury perfect for every day celebrations and available nationally from May 2011.

For over 130 years, Ruffino's philosophy has been to combine Italian winemaking traditions with state-of-the-art technology. This synergy, a respect for history, balanced with a forward-looking passion for innovation and exceptional quality is the foundation of the Ruffino house style. An extra-dry style, the 100 percent glera (Prosecco) grapes are sourced from the hilly areas of Valdobbiadene, one of the best-known regions of Prosecco production in the Veneto region of northwestern Italy.

Batches underwent individual traditional white wine vinification, and, as with all Prosecco, the final blend underwent Charmat fermentation in tanks for one month, producing a bright, fruity style at a moderate 11 percent alcohol.

The launch of Ruffino's new sparkling wine follows a year of incredible category growth in the U.S. In 2010, Prosecco grew 61 percent in volume and 54 percent in dollar value; and in August 2010, Italy became the leading exporter of wines to the U.S., driven largely by the increased popularity of Prosecco among consumers, most notably Millennials, who have helped make it the leading Italian sparkling wine import.

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