Spotlight: Castello di Ama
Castello di Ama sits 12 miles northeast of Siena in the hills of Gaiole. This is the heart of Chianti Classico, a bucolic rolling landscape of woods, vineyards and olive groves. The property is owned and operated by the husband and wife team of Marco Pallanti and Lorenza Sebasti. Over the last quarter century they have replanted all of the vineyards and upgraded all of the winemaking capabilities to make this one of Tuscany’s showcase producers.
L’Apparita was Tuscany’s first pure Merlot and has been a cult wine since its very first vintage in 1985.The small parcels that make up the 3.84 hectares of the L’Apparita vineyard are set atop the Vigneto Bellavista hill, at an altitude of 490 metres. In 1975 they were planted with Canaiolo and Malvasia Bianca, then grafted over with Merlot clone 342 between 1982 and 1985.The vines are trained as open lyre and the soil is clay rich, making this tiny cru a jewel of the international wine production.
