Castello di Amorosa -"Castle of Love"
Save yourself a trip to Italy – visit a Medieval Tuscan Castle in Napa Valley. The 107-room Castello di Amorosa Winery opened in April 2007, after more than a decade of construction. You can see the love and passion that vintner Dario Sattui put into building his dream medieval Tuscan Castle – brick by brick, stone by stone. The architecture and attention to detail is truly magnificent. What better place to make and showcase beautiful, fine wines. It’s one of our favorite wineries in Napa Valley.
Perched on a sunny hillside in the heart of wine country, the winery offers breathtaking views of Napa Valley. On a clear day, you can see for miles. The winery is located on Hwy 29, 5 miles north of St. Helena, just south of Calistoga. On September 28, 2020 the winery’s Farmhouse building containing 120,000 bottles of wine was completely destroyed in Napa Valley’s Glass Fire. Thankfully, the castle and underground cellars were spared and the winery is open for business as usual.
Castello di Amorosa Wine-Tasting & Tours - by Reservation Only
Guided Castle Tours and Wine-Tastings are offered by reservation only. Tastings – in the Main Tasting Room – are limited to 75 minutes. Each Special Tasting Experience includes tasting of 5 wines. Sample a selection of Italian-style varietal wines. The Castle’s famous Muscat Grape juice (non-alcoholic) is also available for sampling. It’s worth a drive to Napa Valley just to visit this amazing winery and taste its premium wines. Say hi to vintner Daryl Satui (V. Sattui Winery is another of our favorites) if you see him walking around the castle.
Special Tasting Experiences
Tastings include:
- Classic Tasting
- Standing Reserve Tasting
- Seated Reserve Tasting
- Diamond Estate Tour & Reserve Wine Tasting
- Cheese & Charcuterie Wine Pairing Tour
- Luxury Tour & Tasting Offerings
Visit Castello di Amorosa’s website for more info on Tasting & Tour fees.
Tour Tips
Be sure to wear comfortable shoes. You’ll get plenty of exercise on the tour that takes you through maze-like arched passageways, private rooms and underground caves. What an adventure! There are many steps on this tour, so be prepared for climbing. The wine cellar can be chilly, even on hot Napa days, so you may want to wear layers.
Castello di Amorosa - Castle Rooms
Featuring all the elements of a European Castle, Castello di Amorosa has a Drawbridge, Dry Moat, Great Hall, Courtyard, Chapel, Lake, Iron-Gated Entrance Towers, Underground Barrel Cellars, Hillside Caves, plus four Private Tasting Rooms, and one main Tasting Room. There’s even an Armory and an underground Torture Chamber!
The Great Hall of the Knights
Huge frescoes depicting 12th and 13th century Knights in Battle (painted by an Italian artist) adorn the walls of the Great Hall at Castello di Amorosa. The stunning room also features a massive 500-year-old fireplace. Local celebrities hosting events here have included the San Francisco 49ers, Gavin Newsom, Nancy Pelosi, Joe Montana… to name a few.
Grand Barrel Room
This architectural masterpiece includes a 40-ft hand-crafted travertine Tasting Bar.
The Courtyard
The 13th century Courtyard is surrounded by walls of stone and ancient brick. The spacious medieval Courtyard makes a stunning setting for special events.
The Chapel
Visit the castle’s Chapel prior to your tour. Note: Chapel is not available for Weddings.
Royal Apartment
During one of our visits to the Castle, we enjoyed a delightful Royal Food and Wine Pairing Tour in the intimate Royal Apartment – a perfect setting for small seated gatherings.
Vittorio’s Room
Vittorio’s Room is dedicated to Dario’s great grandfather, Vittorio Sattui. The California winemaker made wine in his converted bakery from 1885 to 1920. Some of the wine bottles in this room are over 125 years old. Note: Room open for Guided Tours only.
The Knight’s Chamber
This unique chamber room, featuring a series of frescoes, was designed to be a whispering gallery. If you whisper something while standing next to one of the columns, a person on the other side of the 42-ft-wide room will hear you perfectly.
The Torture Chamber
Seeing this authentic Torture Chamber was one of the highlights of our last tour to the Castle. It houses three Prison Cells, a Rack, a Spiked Inquisitor’s Chair, a Hangman’s Noose, and an antique Iron Maiden. Note: The Torture Chamber can only be see on Guided Tours.
