There’s a Castle in Napa Valley
When visiting the Napa Valley, many people center their experience on wine tasting and the enjoyment of the beautiful vineyards along with the views. Rightly so, as it is one of the premier locations on the planet to offer such great wine and beautiful vistas. Yet there is more to see and do.
One of those experiences is a visit to Castello di Amorosa. Which literally means “Castle of Love.” It is a real castle built from authentic materials to replicate a medieval Italian castle. The visionary and owner is Dario Sattui. This was his dream to honor his Italian heritage. He did so with authentic old, handmade materials shipped from Europe to the U.S. in 200+ shipping containers. These containers held old bricks, building materials and furniture. This is a magnificent structure that spans eight levels (four above ground and four below) and has over 100 separate rooms. It even has a prison and a torture chamber. The construction began in 1994, and the castle opened its doors to visitors in 2007. This is the real deal!
Touring the castle can be done on your own or with a guide. The guided tours provide greater insight into the castle and access to additional rooms. It requires an appointment, yet they have great capacity. This is also an excursion that you can take your children on. There is much to see, and even the self-guided tour will take an hour. The views from the upper levels are magnificent. They welcome all, and it is a real family event.
What about the wine though? The castle is surrounded by 171 acres, 30 of which are planted with grapes. The focus of the wines is in keeping with the Italian heritage. They craft small lots of Pinot Grigio, Pinot Blanc, Sangiovese, and a super Tuscan blend. They also produce Pinot Noir, Cabernet, and a late harvest wine. This is well worth the tasting and experience. Their wines have been well received by reviewers and in competitions, such as one done by the San Francisco Chronicle. It is really cool; and, if your kids accompany you, they will be served juice for their tasting while you explore the wines. The wines are only available at the castle or for shipping to residences or businesses. They are not sold at stores or restaurants. Come enjoy the views and the tour into the past.
Enjoy!
