Castello Di Ama
site-specific contemporary art (Anish Kapoor, Louise Bourgeois, Daniel Buren) woven through a top Chianti estate
A 12th-century Chianti Classico wine estate in the hamlet of Ama, near Gaiole in Chianti, where centuries-old winemaking meets a remarkable contemporary art collection with works by Louise Bourgeois, Anish Kapoor, and Daniel Buren. Visits pair a walk through the historic cellars and site-specific installations with a tasting of the estate's signature Chianti Classico labels, including the celebrated San Lorenzo Gran Selezione.
In Ama, Tuscany. Easy to fold into a morning or a longer afternoon; there's usually something else worth a stop within a few minutes' walk.
Castello di Ama is one of Chianti Classico's most acclaimed wineries, set in the medieval hamlet of Ama in Gaiole in Chianti, north of Siena. The ~250-hectare estate is renowned both for its wines — notably the cult Merlot L'Apparita (debut 1985) and the San Lorenzo Gran Selezione (ranked #9 in Wine Spectator's Top 100) — and for an integral collection of 16 site-specific contemporary artworks by artists such as Anish Kapoor, Louise Bourgeois, Daniel Buren, and Chen Zhen. Guided tours (~1.5 hrs, max 7 guests) combine a walk through the borgo, vineyards, cellars, and art with a seated tasting; options run roughly €90–€279 per person and all require reservations. On-site dining at Il Ristoro di Villa Pianigiani serves seasonal Tuscan cuisine from the estate garden, paired with Ama wines, open daily except Tuesdays. Reviews are overwhelmingly positive, frequently calling it the best winery experience in Tuscany.