Castello di Amorosa

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Castello di Amorosa Winery
Location	Calistoga, California, USA
Appellation	Napa Valley
Founded	2007
first Vintage	2001
Key people	Daryl Sattui
Cases/yr	8000^[1]
Varietals	Cabernet Sauvignon, Sangiovese, Chardonnay, Gewürztraminer; Dry and Dolcino, Pinot Grigio, Pinot Bianco, Muscato, Gioia, Merlot, La Fantasia
Website	http://www.castellodiamorosa.com
Tasting	Open to the Public (tours & tasting by appointment only)

Front entrance to the Castello di Amorosa Winery.

A view of the great hall.

A view of the courtyard.

A view of knights' chambers.

A view of the wine cellar.

First opening its doors to the public in April of 2007, the Castello di Amorosa Winery is located near Calistoga, California. It is the pet project of 4th generation vintner, Daryl Sattui who also owns and operates the V. Sattui Winery named after his great-grandfather who originally established a winery in San Francisco in 1885.

Sattui claims to have spent nearly all his resources (about 30 million dollars) and the last 14 years building the medieval replica castle on the vineyard grounds.^[2]

[edit] The castle

The castle interiors cover approximately 121,000 square feet, has 107 rooms on 8 levels above and below ground.^[3] Among many other features, it has; a moat, drawbridge, towers, courtyard, torture chamber, chapel/church, knights' chamber, and a 72 by 30 feet great hall with a 22-foot-high coffered ceiling.

The torture chamber has an authentic 300-year-old iron maiden which Sattui states he bought for $13,000 in Pienza, Italy, a replica rack, prison chambers and other torture devices.^[4]^[5]^[6] The great hall features frescoes painted by two Italian artists who took about a year and a half to complete and showcases a 500 year old fireplace.

The masonry, ironwork and woodwork was fashioned by hand using old world crafting techniques. Building materiels included 8,000 tons of locally quarried stone and some 850,000 bricks imported from Europe.^[7]^[8] Beneath the castle lies a labyrinth of caves some 900 feet in length which are part of a two-acre barrel cellar and tasting room where visitors can taste the wines-all sold only at the Castle.^[9]

Due to Napa County restrictions, the castle and grounds cannot be rented for weddings or receptions, but are available to rent for corporate gatherings and fund raisers.