Introduction
Situated in the picturesque landscape of Napa Valley, California, Castello di Amorosa winery is a unique blend of history, beauty, and enology. A structure that elegantly juxtaposes Old World charm with New World wine culture, the Castello has become one of the top destinations for wine enthusiasts, history buffs, and tourists from around the globe. This sprawling castle winery, perched atop a sun-kissed hill, is a spectacle in stone and vines, well worth exploring.
History
The Castello di Amorosa, translating to “Castle of Love” in Italian, is the brainchild of Dario Sattui, a fourth-generation winemaker and the great-grandson of Vittorio Sattui, who founded the acclaimed V. Sattui Winery in St. Helena in 1885. However, the idea for Castello di Amorosa didn’t take root until much later, around the turn of the 21st century.
Inspired by a profound appreciation for Italian architecture and a love for Italian wine, Sattui began building the Castello in 1994. His vision was to construct an authentic 13th-century Tuscan-style castle in the heart of Napa Valley, imbued with the soul of Italian winemaking tradition.
Construction took over 15 years, employing old world crafting techniques and importing materials from Europe to ensure authenticity. Over 200 containers of handmade antique bricks and tiles were shipped from Europe to give the castle a genuine historical feel. The castle officially opened to the public in 2007.
The Castle Architecture
The resulting structure is an architectural masterpiece that spans 121,000 square feet. The Castello houses 107 rooms, including a grand banquet hall, secret passageways, a torture chamber, a chapel, and even a drawbridge. The castle’s lower levels include an elaborate labyrinth of cellars and caves where wines age to perfection in a cool, controlled environment.
The Vineyard
The vineyard surrounding the Castello spans over 171 acres, though only 30 acres are cultivated for grapevines. The vineyard uses sustainable farming practices to nurture a variety of grapes that are ideally suited to the local climate and soil.
The majority of the vineyard is dedicated to growing red grape varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Sangiovese, and Primitivo. The white grape varieties include Gewürztraminer and Muscat Canelli, which are known for their rich, aromatic profiles.
One of the unique aspects of Castello di Amorosa’s viticulture practice is their dedication to Italian grape varieties. While many Napa Valley vineyards focus on the classic French varietals, Castello cultivates Italian varieties like Sangiovese, Primitivo, and Moscato, fostering a connection to Sattui’s Italian heritage.
Winemaking
Castello di Amorosa’s winemaking combines centuries-old Italian traditions with modern techniques. Following a meticulous selection process, the handpicked grapes are fermented in a mix of stainless steel tanks and open-top fermenters, which allow for careful temperature control and extraction of colors and flavors.
After fermentation, the wines are aged in an impressive cellar, containing over 1,000 barrels made from a variety of European oaks. This attention to detail in barrel selection reflects the quality and complexity of Castello wines.
The winery produces a range of wine styles, from robust, flavorful reds and crisp, aromatic whites to delectable dessert wines. They also produce a range of reserve wines and single-vineyard selections.
Notoriety and Accolades
Over the years, Castello di Amorosa has been recognized for its outstanding wines and exceptional wine tourism experience. They have received numerous awards and honors from prestigious institutions within the wine industry.
Their wines, particularly the Cabernet Sauvignon and Sangiovese, have received high ratings from critics and have been awarded in several wine competitions. The Il Barone, their Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, and La Castellana, a Super Tuscan-style blend, are particularly renowned. The Late Harvest Gewürztraminer, a delectable dessert wine, is another crowd favorite and has earned critical acclaim.
The unique and authentic experience Castello di Amorosa provides for its visitors has been acknowledged by leading travel and lifestyle publications. The opulent medieval architecture, coupled with wine tasting tours and food pairings, provides an unforgettable journey through history and viticulture. They have been named ‘Best Tasting Room’ by the North Bay Bohemian and their Wine Club, which offers exclusive wines and events to members, is also highly rated.
Moreover, Castello di Amorosa has often been the venue of choice for special events, galas, and wine release parties, adding to its reputation as an iconic Napa Valley destination.
Conclusion
While there are many remarkable wineries in Napa Valley, Castello di Amorosa stands apart in its commitment to creating an authentic, immersive Italian wine experience. From its careful viticulture and winemaking practices to the attention to detail in the castle’s architecture, Castello di Amorosa seamlessly melds history, culture, and oenology.
Whether you’re a seasoned wine connoisseur or a casual visitor, Castello di Amorosa offers an enchanting escape. Here, you can sip finely crafted wines, marvel at the historical architecture, and indulge in the breathtaking views of Napa Valley – a testament to Dario Sattui’s vision and a homage to the time-honored tradition of winemaking.
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Joan Pratt
2 weeks agoOur visit to Castello di Amorosa was truly unforgettable. The guided tour was fantastic—our guide was knowledgeable, engaging, and made the history of the castle come alive. Exploring the multiple underground levels was a highlight, with each level offering something unique and fascinating. One of the coolest touches was the attention to detail throughout the castle, like the intricate dragon designs on the light fixtures—they were such a fun and unexpected surprise! If you’re a wine lover, history buff, or just someone looking for a unique experience, I highly recommend a visit to this incredible castle. It’s not just a winery; it’s a step back in time with so much to see and enjoy.
Charlie Morse
3 months agoWhile a newly-built castle, this place oozes history and a love for the old world. We chose to take a guided tour during our visit to the San Francisco area, and found this winery to be an excellent experience! Our guide, Irene, was very knowledgeable and super friendly. She gave us an amazing tour with a perfect pace. The tastings were incredible, and tailored to individual palates, which I thought was a nice touch, in comparison to more “cookie-cutter” tastings I’ve had in the past. The wine is the star of this place, and it is VERY good! Take this tour and buy yourself some wine that you can only source directly from Castillo di Amorosa. You won’t be sorry!
Melody O.
4 months agoCastello di Amorosa is a beautiful Napa Valley Tuscan style castle built in 1994. Reservations are recommended but not required. Winery memberships are available and are a good option for wine enthusiasts. The tastings are some of the finest wines you’ll ever taste and can only be found at Castello di Amorosa or online so stock up on your favorites while there. On site dining is available This was truly one of the best wineries I’ve visited.
Viera V
3 weeks agoLove this place. Very likely my favorite winery. I have been here several times: tour, wine 🍷 tasting or just stop by the gift shop and pick up some chocolate or wine. Planning to go again to see what the place looks like for the Holiday season
Rose Stewart
2 months agoMy family went wine tasting today for my daughter's birthday. First of all, when we purchased the tickets the lady was a little bit rude. We did ask if they have tours. She said no but when we were inside we saw tours being done. We purchased the tickets to go wine tasting and the gentleman that was serving the wine at the beginning was rude with us. As time went by he got a little bit better with us. We made a reservation to go and have lunch at another restaurant, We did ask the gentleman that we still needed to purchase wine but we didn't have the time because we had reservations for lunch. We did not get a chance to explore the castle and I asked. Can we come back just to walk around and look at the castle? He told us no. Once you leave the castle you're not allowed to come back in without a ticket. Which to be honest with you, I don't understand that policy. They know that I won't be able to do another wine tasting but that's not what I'm looking for in the first place. I already did my wine tasting. I just wanted to explore and walk around the castle. We went and had lunch. After lunch we came back to go outside the castle and purchase the bottles of wine. It was so difficult going back just to purchase the bottles of wine. I explained to the man that it was by the gate that we did our wine tasting. We went and had lunch and we needed to come back and purchase the wine and that's all we were going to do. Go outside the castle and purchase the wine. I showed him my receipt and he said my receipt was from yesterday. I told him no. Take a look at the day. Isn't that today's date and he Said oh okay. I don't know why they were being so rude like we were there to rip them off or something. He finally let us go just to pick up bottles of wine.