He Who Wanders

As a gorgeous to the birthplace of the Italian Renaissance, Tuscany is one of the most famous regions in Italy. Its food, art, and history are all legendary. But best of all is the wine: Chianti, Brunello, Super Tuscan, and many more. So it was imperative I visited a couple wineries while in Tuscany. Although there are countless wineries in Tuscany, I decided to visit Castello di Ama and Tenuta Torciano.

Castello di Ama

First of the two wineries was Castello di Ama. Like much of the Tuscan countryside, Castello di Ama offered an idyllic display of rolling hills and endless rows of grapes. However, Castello di Ama actually also houses a small collection of modern art sculptures. Each sculpture comes from a different country of the world and has its own unique meaning. Trust me. Even the simplest of the sculptures has a complex story behind it.

As for the wine itself, believe me Castello di Ama does not disappoint. We had a tasting of four wines: a Chardonnay, 2015 Chianti Classico, 2014 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione, and 2014 L’ Apparita, a 100% Merlot Super Tuscan that once beat Petreus and other high-ranking wines in a tasting by the Académie du Vin in Switzerland. Although all of the wines were enjoyable, the final one was incomparable. It showcased strong berry tones on the nose and on the tongue. Its mouthfeel was velvety and its tannins subtle. The finish lasted forever. I couldn’t resist the urge to buy a bottle.

Castello di Ama is certainly worth a visit, if not for the wine, then for the art. It also functions as an inn. The price tag is a bit high, but the Tuscan countryside is like nothing else.

Tenuta Torciano

While Castello di Ama had a quieter, more subdued feel to it, Tenuta Torciano catered more to the guests’ experience. They had lovely gardens, a restaurant, truffle hunts, and even a helicopter tour of the winery. By the way, the food at the restaurant is spectacular. I’ve never had such delicious lasagna in my life.

The wine itself is decent. We tried various wines of varying qualities: Vernaccia, Chianti, Brunello, Prosecco, and so on. All in all we tried eight different wines. After a while, it becomes difficult to tell one wine from the other. There were certainly some noteworthy wines in the tasting, but that’s not their focus. Their M.O. at Tenuta Torciano is to welcome you in, get you in a state of relaxation and enjoyment, and then encourage you to buy a lot. At Castello di Ama, we didn’t talk about purchasing wine until we asked them about it.

Intentions aside, it was an incredible experience. The people are kind, the food is delicious, the wine is tasty, and the scenery is tremendous. If you can resist the urge to buy cases upon case of wine, then you will have a fantastic time at Tenuta Torciano. And isn’t that what travel is all about?