Casa Vinicola Dreolino, a family-run winery from the heart of Tuscany, located in the town of Rufina, near of Florence. Rufina is also one of the subzones of Chianti appellation.
The winery was founded in 1939 by Gino Tanini, thus the name of the firm, the etymology of which is fairly interesting. Dreolino is a diminutive form of Andrea, called Drea in his days by friends and relatives.
Andrea is the name of Gino’s father. To differentiate “little” Gino from his father Drea, people started call him Dreolino or ‘little Drea’. Since at the time there was born another Gino Tanini in the village of Rufina, the nickname Dreolino was associated with the owners of the winery and become the official name of the company. Their base was in the very heart of Rufina. The firm has been progressing constantly from 1930s, and in 1967 Raffaello Tanini purchased large plots and constructed the present headquarters and processing plant.
Today, Casa Vinicola Dreolino is managed by the next generation represented by Sabrina and Andrea. Modernity is coupled with their traditional approach to Chianti, which released by them, indeed, is very “honest”, like they are. We met them at the wine exhibition in Verona a few years ago, and established good contact at once. Dreolino’s Chianti is made from Sangiovese with the addition of Colorino and Merlot, while their Chianti Rufina is the same composition, but without the addition of Merlot. As Tuscany now is internationally famous, local winemakers often adopt a more commercial approach to wine and its personality. Luckily Dreolino is far from this image, their Chiantis, although associated with a popular wine, are of excellent quality, with aromas and flavours of authentic Tuscany, not necessarily that shown in the travel brochures.