- BY ISSIMO
- November 20, 2024
Lorenza Sebasti describes herself as the ‘custodian’ of Castello di Ama – the glorious Sienese estate on an ancient land featuring 75 hectares of vineyards, two 17th-century villas, an incredible site-specific Contemporary Art Project, and much more. From branding and marketing, to welcoming visitors and overseeing special projects with world-leading artists, her passion for wine and art converge in a role that’s not a job, but a way of life. In fact, Lorenza describes every day spent on Castello di Ama as her ‘life’s calling’.
Read on to discover more of Lorenza’s exclusive insights about how she first found herself on Castello di Ama years ago, and how the estate has evolved to earn worldwide recognition for its wine, art and unforgettable atmosphere.
Can you tell us about how you started your career at Castello di Ama?
I was lucky enough to visit Castello di Ama when I was 15 years old. The winery had already been developed by my father and three partners, and I went for a weekend to attend a party there. I felt an instant ‘calling’ to the estate, it spoke to me in an incredible way, and I immediately knew I wanted to move there as soon as possible.
I was born and raised in Rome, and my father told me to finish my studies before I moved. So I completed my degree in Business Administration, but I was always trying to escape the city and spend as much time at Castello di Ama as possible. I finally moved there in 1988. Initially, I spent a lot of time with the winemaker; observing their work and learning as much as I could about the estate and the wine because I didn’t have any background in the wine industry. I took every opportunity to expand my knowledge, and I even studied a short course at the University of Bordeaux. Gradually I became familiar with the terroir, the vineyards, and the method of producing the Chianti Classico wine, which is our signature here.
How did your role evolve once you relocated to the estate?
After a while, I decided to mainly focus on the branding and commercial aspects of the winery. I really felt it was important to bring the right image to the winery and the wine, especially because, at the time, our Chianti was not as highly regarded for producing high-quality wine. However, I saw we had an incredible opportunity to produce some beautiful wine, and I was lucky to start working with some great vintages. The ‘88 and ‘90 vintages were very important in helping shape the estate’s and the region’s recognition as a producer of high-quality wine.
I felt like I became the ‘custodian’ of Castello di Ama because I’m so passionate about showing the world the great quality of the wine we were already producing in the late ‘80s and early ‘90s. When I taste our wines from those vintages, they are just as good now as they were back then. I think quality is something that you can prove.
Can you describe the atmosphere at Castello di Ama, and what makes it such a special place?
It’s a truly unique place. There are so many layers of history here. It’s originally an Etruscan site, but it also has medieval buildings and two chapels from Roman times. Following that, it was also a significant site during the Renaissance.
We own two 17th-century villas – Villa Pianigiani and Villa Ricucci – which feature beautifully elegant lines and angles typical of Tuscan architecture. They are in perfect harmony with the surrounding landscape. When you arrive at Castello di Ama, you find a small village with about 12 houses, and you are surrounded by an ‘amphitheatre’ of vineyards that welcome you. It has an incredible atmosphere, you feel like you’ve stepped back 200 years in time!
Today, Castello di Ama is renowned for its Contemporary Art Project based on site-specific artworks created by some of the most important contemporary artists including Anish Kapoor, Michelangelo Pistoletto and Louise Bourgeois. Can you explain the role that art plays across the estate?
Art was something my family always valued, and living with art has always been very important to me. When I came to Castello di Ama I felt a need to share my passion for art, and to fill the estate with beautiful and thought-provoking work, giving it another layer of character and discovery. In my early years there I created some exhibitions in our villa during the summer, which was a great way of bringing people together, and it also helped me meet new people in the region. Following this experience, Marco Pallanti (winemaker and director of Castello di Ama since 1982) and I continued to work together to bring the worlds of wine and art together.
In 1997 we were restoring the old cellar and we found a big oak in there. It was an incredible and surprising discovery, and we decided to try and convert it into a work of art. We connected with Galleria Continua who put us in contact with the legendary Italian contemporary artist Michaelangelo Pistoletto, who agreed to undertake a unique project with us.
Michelangelo came to visit us and got a feeling for the estate, and we were honoured to have him create the first site-specific work for Castello di Ama which was installed in 2000, titled L’albero di Ama, moltiplicazione e divisione dello specchio. This was a major milestone for us. We were so thrilled to have the opportunity to work with such a brilliant and renowned artist, and we were so excited by the outcome of the project. It all happened in such a natural way, from that existing oak we found!
In the ten years that followed this first project, we appointed a different artist almost every year to create a site-specific work of art for our Contemporary Art Project. We have been so lucky to bring this vision and project to life welcoming some incredible artists to the estate over the years including Giulio Paolini, Anish Kapoor, Kendall Geers and Louise Bourgeois.
How has the Contemporary Art Project enabled Castello di Ama to engage a broader international audience of visitors who come to explore the estate?
Working with Louise Bourgeois was a turning point for us. Once her piece was installed it inspired me to open the winery to the public and share our collection of works with the world. Up until then, we had always kept the estate quite private; we only opened it for industry guests and business visits and tastings. Opening the Castello di Ama to the public has changed the dynamic of the estate. Now people can come to taste the wine, enjoy the vineyard, and of course, explore the art collection. I’m a very passionate person and I know I’ve found my life’s purpose at Castello di Ama. I’m honoured to welcome people, and I love experiencing the estate through their eyes. It’s one of my life’s greatest joys knowing that it’s such a unique place in Italy, and in the world.
Since 2009, the estate has gradually evolved. We opened five suites in Villa Ricucci so visitors can stay overnight, as well as a small home-style ‘Ristoro’ in Villa Pianigiani where guests can pair our wines with beautiful local cuisine. We are still developing the estate to offer maximum hospitality for friends and guests who come to visit us, especially if they want to stay and explore the estate and the art properly. Time is a key concept for us here – whether it’s in the winemaking process, the artist’s projects, or the visitors’ experience, we never want people to feel rushed or in a hurry. When you respect time you are always rewarded.
“I’m a very passionate person and I know I’ve found my life’s purpose at Castello di Ama. I’m honoured to welcome visitors and guests, and I love experiencing the estate through their eyes.”
What advice would you give to women working in Italy’s wine industry, or who want to start their career?
When I was young it was always a very male-dominated industry. However, things are changing and the presence of women is probably greater than men now. I think women should take inspiration from this, and from the fact that we have respect for the industry and a 360-degree perspective of it. From winemaking and hospitality, to marketing and the commercial side of things, we are doing great work in many diverse roles.
I think the most important thing is to love wine. You can’t work in the industry unless you truly love wine and are passionate about producing a beautiful product. The biggest lesson I’ve learnt is that you need to put in hard work every single day everyday, and fill your heart with as many different experiences, learnings and lessons from as many different people as possible.
All images courtesy of: Alessandro Moggi
