Castello di Ama

The Castello di Ama site carries a winemaking tradition dating to the 16th century, when it was managed by the Pianigiani, Ricucci, and Montigiani families. Grand Duke Peter Leopold of Habsburg-Lorraine visited the estate in the 18th century. Four Roman families purchased and began restoring the property in 1976, determined to revive its historic potential. From the outset, the estate committed to estate-grown fruit exclusively, a standard it maintains today with all vineyards located within a 3-kilometer radius of the winery so grapes reach the cellar within two hours of harvest.

• Medieval hamlet with documented winemaking history from the 16th century
• Purchased and founded by four Roman families in 1976
• Visited by Grand Duke Peter Leopold of Habsburg-Lorraine in the 18th century
• Modern fermentation cellar with temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks completed in 1979

The estate's 75 hectares of vine sit at elevations between 420 and 527 meters above sea level, benefiting from a mild Mediterranean climate with warm days and cool nights that promote slow, balanced ripening. Soils vary across the property, combining limestone-clayey galestro (crumbly marl), alberese (limestone-rich), and clay-chalk soils with abundant stones on the highest slopes. Vines are planted at high density, 5,000 to 5,500 vines per hectare, across four named vineyard valleys: Bellavista, San Lorenzo, La Casuccia, and Montebuoni. Castello di Ama has practiced sustainable viticulture since the late 1990s and holds Equalitas certification.

• Four named cru vineyards: Bellavista, San Lorenzo, La Casuccia, and Montebuoni
• High-density planting at 5,000-5,500 vines per hectare
• Galestro and alberese soils typical of the Chianti Classico zone
• Sustainable viticulture certified under Italy's Equalitas standard

Marco Pallanti joined the estate as winemaker and technical director in 1982 and has been the driving force behind its evolution. That same year, he introduced the open lyre training system to Italy, a first for the country. In 1992, the estate shifted from traditional large Slavonian botti to French barriques, aging wines with 50% new oak. Castello di Ama launched the single-vineyard cru concept in Chianti Classico with Vigneto Bellavista as early as 1978, well before Gran Selezione was established as a category. The estate also produces single-vineyard Gran Selezioni, which represent the appellation's top classification tier.

• Marco Pallanti introduced the open lyre training system to Italy in 1982
• Shifted to French barriques at 50% new oak in 1992
• Pioneered single-vineyard cru concept in Chianti Classico from 1978
• Pallanti named Oenologist of the Year by Vini d'Italia, Gambero Rosso and Slow Food in 2003

L'Apparita, the estate's 100% Merlot Super Tuscan first produced in 1985, became one of the most iconic Tuscan Merlots. The San Lorenzo Gran Selezione was ranked 6th on Wine Spectator's Best Wines of the World list in 2010. Gambero Rosso named Castello di Ama Best Winery of the Year in 2005. Beyond wine, the estate commissioned a significant contemporary art collection featuring works by Louise Bourgeois and Anish Kapoor, integrating the arts into the property's identity.

• L'Apparita (100% Merlot) first produced in 1985, now an iconic Tuscan wine
• San Lorenzo Gran Selezione ranked 6th on Wine Spectator's Best Wines of the World (2010)
• Best Winery of the Year, Gambero Rosso, 2005
• Contemporary art collection featuring Louise Bourgeois and Anish Kapoor