Castello di Amorosa, An Italian Castle in Napa Valley

 

 Turn off Highway 29 and follow the road through the iron gates. Drive up the hill flanked on both sides by tall cypress trees and vineyards (just as in Italy)  and you’ll soon see an authentic 13th-century Italian castle and winery built in the hills of Napa Valley, California.  There’s even a little roadside chapel, such as you see scattered across the Tuscan countryside.

In true Italian style, owner Dario Sattui, a fourth-generation Italian American, left nothing to chance when he began building his Tuscan castle in 1994. Sattui first thought only of replanting old vines on the land he had purchased over twenty years ago. Then, on a trip to France, he visited some ancient underground wine cellars and determined to build his own cellars in Napa Valley, and an authentic castle to showcase his Italian-style wines

Castello di Amorosa an Italian Castle in Napa Valley

After years of research in Italy, he hired the best architects and builders; artists who understood his vision and shared his passion for medieval architecture. Every brick, every nail, absolutely everything to do with building Castello di Amorosa had to be authentic to the 13th century. If the original material could not be found then it would be recreated in the same way it was created in medieval times.

Such attention to detail and insistence on perfection translated into some big numbers. The Castello took twelve years to build at a cost of many millions of dollars. It’s over 121,000 square feet with over 107 rooms. More than 1,000,000 bricks were imported and over 8,000 tons of stone was poured to recreate this Tuscan masterpiece.

But why was Mr. Sattui so hell-bent on building a castle in the vineyards? What could possess a man to gamble everything on reproducing a Tuscan castle in California? The answer is: there is no answer. It just is. He’s obsessed with makeovers. He’s restored a Victorian house in Napa Valley (where he currently lives), a monastery in Italy (which he rents to travelers), and has another project in the works.  Based on the success of Castello di Amorosa, it seems he’s a professional gambler.

Guided tour of the Castle

I took the guided tour of Castello di Amorosa, which included a Reserve Wine tasting. If you are interested in history, architecture, Italy, or, all of the above, I highly recommend the guided tour.

Our guide, Anthony, was full of fun facts and details about the castle. Did you know that in medieval times, the more nails you had in your door the more prosperous you were? Or that the reason you often see ancient buildings with windows bricked over is that the owners wanted to avoid paying taxes, which were calculated based on the number of windows you had?

The guided tour also takes you to the castle cellars which are really beautiful. A huge space (135 feet long and with 40 Roman-style cross vaults) – it’s impressive! (There’s that word again.) Not to mention the 1,200 barrels of wine stored there… it’s enough to make you wonder what it might be like to be king of this particular castle.

Tour highlights

Other tour highlights included the great hall with frescoes styled after those seen in Siena government buildings, a view from the upper level battlements across the vineyards, and finally the torture chamber with an authentic iron maiden. There’s a moat, drawbridge, chapel, inner courtyard, secret passageways, dungeon, and stables. 

 

What about the wine tasting?

I had the option of tasting ten wines! Five of them were reserve wines.  There were three red wines and two whites on the reserve tasting. I’m not a wine expert, but I do know what I like, which is consistently the most expensive wine on the menu. I’m not sure what that means, but I think a few other people must agree with me as my favorite, the Anderson Valley Pinot Noir, was sold out. There is chocolate to go with some of the sweeter red wines – a very popular pairing.

Castello di Amorosa is a destination in itself

If you choose not to take the guided tour, Castello di Amorosa is still a destination worth seeing in Napa Valley. Perched on the hillside with a view of the Vaca Mountains in the east, it’s a beautiful spot to just get outside and wander. Pigs, chickens, and peacocks roam freely. You can also opt for a vineyard tour. Allow at least an hour to wander around on your own, or 2 – 3 hours for a full tour with a tasting.

Castello di Amorosa has been rated one of the top wineries and destinations in Napa Valley numerous times since opening in 2007. Not that I’m partial to anything Italian, but it was at the top of my list of places to see in the area. Now that I’ve been there, I’d have to agree. For more information visit the website Castello di Amorosa.

2020 updates: 

 Since my first visit in 2014, the Castello has acquired some new vineyards. These vineyards, planted to Pinot Noir (Mendocino Country and some in Sonoma County) and one planted in Cabernet Sauvignon, are producing high-quality fruit which equals high-quality wine.

2013 And 2014 Vintages

The 2013 and 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon both received 93 points from Robert Parker.  All of their wines are sold exclusively to wine club members and at the Castello.  The Terre de Promissio Pinot Noir, sourced from the Petaluma Gap vineyards, was outstanding.

Thanks to the folks at Castello di Amorosa for the opportunity to revisit the castle and try their newest releases.