Castello di Amorosa

Infobox Winery
winery_name = Castello di Amorosa Winery
winery_logo =
location_city = Calistoga, California
location_country = USA
appellation = Napa Valley
former_name =
other_labels=
year_founded = 2007
first_vintage = 2001
key_people = Daryl Sattui
parent_company =
cases_per_year = 8000 [ [http://newsok.com/article/3109623/1188074432 NewsOK] ]
signature_wine =
varietal1 = Cabernet Sauvignon
varietal2 = Sangiovese
varietal3 = Chardonnay
varietal4 = Gewürztraminer; Dry and Dolcino
varietal5 = Pinot Grigio
varietal6 = Pinot Bianco
varietal7 = Muscato
varietal8 = Gioia
varietal9 = Merlot
varietal10 = La Fantasia
other_product1=
other_product2=
other_product3=
other_product4=
other_product5=
homepage= http://www.castellodiamorosa.com
distribution On location, wine club, mail order
tasting= Open to the Public (tours & tasting by appointment only)First opening its doors to the public in April 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. [ [http://www.uncork29.com/blog/2007/04/24/five-questions-with-castello-di-amorosas-daryl-sattui/ The Cork Board] ]

The castle

The castle interiors cover approximately convert|121000|sqft|m2, has 107 rooms on 8 levels above and below ground. [ [http://newsok.com/article/3109623/1188074432 NewsOK] ] Among many other features, it has; a moat, drawbridge, towers, courtyard, torture chamber, chapel/church, knights' chamber, and a 72 by convert|30|ft|m great hall with a convert|22|ft|m|sing=on-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. [ [http://travel.latimes.com/articles/la-tr-castle25feb25 Los Angeles Times] ] [ [http://www.viamagazine.com/top_stories/articles/napas_castello07.asp Via Magazine] ] [ [http://newsok.com/article/3109623/1188074432 NewsOK] ] 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. [ [http://biteclub.pressdemocrat.com/default.asp?item=675294 The Press Democrat] ] [ [http://newsok.com/article/3109623/1188074432 NewsOK] ] Beneath the castle lies a labyrinth of caves some convert|900|ft|m 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. [ [http://www.goldenhaven.com/wineries/Sattui_Castle.html Golden Haven] ]

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.

External links

* [http://travel.webshots.com/album/559143005izBIjj?start=0 Webshots Album] : Dozens of photos of the grounds and rooms

References