Meaning “Castle of Love,” Castello di Amorosa winery not only reflects its creator’s passion for medieval architecture and wine, but it makes visitors fall in love with it. This massive structure is not some modern, Hollywood-set-like castle facade. This is an authentic 14th Century-style castle, built using only old, hand-made materials (like local hand-chiseled stone and antique bricks) and with the same methods that builders used 700 to 800 years ago in Europe.
Containers full of old furnishings and materials were even brought from Europe to decorate the inside. As the founder, Dario Sattui, stated, “You can’t fake something like this. You either have to do it right or people will know it’s not authentic.” And this castle winery in Calistoga, CA, with the exception of complying with current building codes and installing running water and electricity, is very clearly authentic, whether you have been to a Tuscan castle or not.
As it turns out, I have been to a Tuscan castle, and I fell more in love with Castello di Amorosa than I did with the one in Italy. My name is Natasha, and I am proud to be writing for Only In Your State. I have traveled around the world and love discovering new places, whether abroad or right here in Southern California where I was born and raised. Even after seeing so many other places, I still find the Golden State to be one of my favorite places in the world, and being able to share it through my writing makes me happy. As a young person, I did not like or appreciate history, but my exposure to the world has changed that significantly, so the opportunity to explore this enchanting castle was an adventure I could not pass up.
The massive property is just incredibly beautiful with gently rolling hills covered in grapevines and trees. Visiting In May meant that we were surrounded by vibrant green as we drove up through the vineyard to the castle.
As the castle comes into view, it really does look like something out of a storybook with its stone walls, tall towers, and characteristic battlements.
The main entrance of the castle is reached by climbing up a set of stone steps and crossing over the moat (yes, there is a moat!), then walking over the drawbridge.
This dreamy entrance alone would make this place worth visiting (if for nothing other than the photos!), but this was just the beginning.
If you come to taste or purchase wine, you are able to walk around part of the castle that is above ground, and it is absolutely worth doing so. Each section or room on the two main levels features a sign with a QR code so you can learn more online.
My friends and I wanted to see as much as possible, so we made reservations for the Diamond Estate Tour and Reserve Wine Tasting, which I now highly recommend.
As we were led down into the underground tunnels, it was hard to process that this ancient structure was actually completed in 2007, not 1200 A.D. The tunnels seemed to go on forever, branching off into more tunnels and punctuated by little side chambers with wood and iron gates where wines are stored.
We were taken into one tunnel just to smell the newly-filled French Oak barrels and into others that smelled like sweet wine.
Unlike other wineries that reuse their barrels, Castello only ages its wines in new barrels, giving them a distinctive and consistent flavor profile.
Being a medieval castle, Castello di Amoroso is not entirely about love. It has an armory and a torture chamber.
While not all of the weapons on display were genuine, there were some intensely real pieces of torture equipment such as an Iron Maiden from 15th Century France, a so-called Bird’s Nest, and a limb-stretching “rack.” Not at all fun to think about, but absolutely fascinating to see in person!
The biggest and one of the most beautiful rooms in the castle is the underground wine cellar, the Grand Barrel Room.
I couldn’t help imagining a spectacular formal affair in this room with thousands of candles and, of course, wine. In this room, we enjoyed a sample of a young Cabernet Sauvignon straight from the barrel, a first for me.
At the end of our guided tour, our small group was taken to a private tasting bar to sample five of the winery’s current reserve and small-production wines, including reds, whites, sparkling, and sweet.
Our guide gave us plenty of time to look over the selection, ask questions, and enjoy our samples. In perfect harmony with the Tuscan-inspired building, Castello di Amorosa specializes in Italian-style wines and they are not sold anywhere else. In fact, we were told that the castle is so well-known that they do not need to use distributors for their wines. Each wine we tasted was unique and lovely, and yes, there were a few that I could not leave without.
After our tour, we bought some Italian cookies in the gift shop and went about exploring the rest of the castle, wandering through the rooms on the main floor, including the Great Hall, the Chapel, the Knights Hall, and the gorgeous courtyard.
It was hard to even take in all of the intricate details, from the floor-to-ceiling murals to the spectacular ceilings.
The views from the castle wall of the vineyards and a small wooded forest were just breathtaking.
Everywhere you go, there are fascinating keepsakes of the past, like the genuine catapult with its enormous stone ball in place, ready to fire over the wall.
Determined to miss nothing, we climbed the Truncated Tower, peeking through windows, marveling at the primitive-looking, yet somehow beautiful, construction of the walls with all of the different sizes and shapes of stones, messy mortar, and little rocks used to fill gaps.
When my inner princess was satisfied, we climbed back down to walk around the grounds a bit - which are home to a few sheep, goats, and peacocks - before leaving.
Castello di Amorosa is as close to you can get to old Tuscany without leaving the country, and I cannot wait to visit again when I have the chance, maybe in the fall when the vineyards turn gold and red and the new wines are being produced. Check out our video about this unique day trip destination here, and follow the OnlyInYourState YouTube channel for more incredible travel content.
Have you ever been to this castle winery in the adorable town of Calistoga? Do you have a favorite winery in Napa Valley? We would love to hear about your experiences in this unique part of California, as well as your best recommendations for things to do and places to see here. To learn more about the castle, its history, and the winery, and to make your own tour reservation, visit the Castello di Amorosa website. Share with us in the comments! For more travel inspiration, check out some of our best Northern California day trip ideas.
Our team of local travel experts is excited to share their adventures with you. Discover more boots-on-the-ground experiences from all over the country in our Only In Your State’s Everyday Explorer Series. Be sure to check it out, and let us know where you would like us to go next using our Nominations form.
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