Castello di Ama

Castello di Ama is a winery established in the 1970s by the family of Lorenza Sebasti and Marco Pallanti, who, inspired by the picturesque landscapes of Chianti, wanted to revive an already historically established area. Located in Ama, in the municipality of Gaiole in Chianti, in the province of Siena, the winery enjoys five splendid vineyards along 89 hectares screwed around the town. Set almost 500 meters above sea level, the soils are characterized by different exposures and structures, to which correspond names coined by tradition, inspired by surrounding villages or local characteristics: while the "Bellavista" Vineyard spreads over stony, clay and limestone soil is invested by the sun's heat to the south-southwest, the "La Casuccia" Vineyard faces west-southwest and has a strongly clayey soil crossed by skeleton, the "San Lorenzo" Vineyard has at its heart a small church from the 15th century, which stands on limestone soil looking east-southeast into the sun, the "Bertinga" Vineyard has a variegated soil that opens mostly to the west, and finally, the "Montebuoni" Vineyard has an extremely varied composition extending to the south-southwest.

The history of Castello di Ama as the cradle of wine production began in the 18th century, a time when it had already been reported as the "best place in Chianti for wines" by Grand Duke Peter Leopold of Habsburg-Lorraine, who visited Ama in 1773 and sang its praises to the government of Tuscany. A plaque recalls these words of admiration, which went on to say that "Around the castle of Amma there are the most beautiful hills and valleys in the whole of Chianti, cultivated to marvel with fertile soils of grains, olive trees and beautiful vineyards" to then emphasize how "The vineyards of Ama are well exposed, assolative, all kept excellently and like gardens: this part is the most fertile and the most renowned of Chianti."

The excellence of the golden days is back today more resplendent than ever, as evidenced by the awards that have crowned it: while owner Marco was awarded the title of Winemaker of the Year in 2003 by the Gambero Rosso Wine Guide, for the next two terms, from 2006 to 2012, he was awarded the title of president of the Chianti Classico Consortium, and in 2005 the winery was declared the Best of the Year.