Castello di Amorosa: Visit A Medieval Castle in Napa Valley

Castello di Amorosa, a medieval Italian Tuscan castle and winery, has been delighting visitors since it officially lowered its drawbridge in 2007. It sits in the hills near the Napa Valley town of Calistoga where Colonel William Nash planted one of California’s first vineyards in 1846.

If you’re planning a trip to California wine country, Castello di Amorosa should be on your list. Here’s everything you need to know about Castello di Amorosa, including why it was built, how to get there, and what kinds of tours and wine tastings it offers.

The Story of Behind Castello di Amorosa

The story behind this unique Napa Valley attraction starts with Dario Sattui, a 4th-generation Italian winemaker whose decades of visiting medieval castles and wineries in Europe became an all-consuming passion.

Dario intended to build an 8,500-square-foot building without cellars, but the “castle of love” grew in size and grandeur to become 107 rooms that would cover five American football fields if laid out side by side.

There’s an enormous Great Hall with 2-story Tuscan frescoes; a 500-year-old fireplace; 8,000 tons of hand-chiseled stones; a drawbridge, dungeon, and torture chamber; a medieval church; secret passageways; and a stunning wine barrel room with ancient Roman cross-vaulted ceilings.

Castello di Amorosa’s construction took 15 years and used one million imported antique bricks. More than 200 containers of other materials and furnishings were shipped over from Europe to decorate the interior. When it was complete, Dario said of his masterpiece, “So Castello authentic, I used only hand-made materials, employing the same methods that would have been used 700-800 years ago. You can’t fake something like this.”

The Castello di Amorosa Vineyard

This 30-acre estate vineyard surrounding the Castello, in the foothills of the Diamond Mountain District, is planted with Cabernet Sauvignon, Sangiovese, Merlot, Primitivo, Malbec, and Petit Verdot grapes. The porous volcanic soils and extended sun exposure above the fog line produce rich and powerful Cabernet Sauvignons with chewy textures and hard tannins. The vineyards are certified Napa Green, a soil-to-bottle environmental stewardship program.

Besides this vineyard, Castello sources grapes from more than a dozen other sites it owns and cultivates in the Napa, Sonoma, and Anderson Valleys.

The wine-making team focuses on balance and terroir expression. As a result, Castello di Amorosa’s wines — which are available only at the winery — are elegant, well-structured, and intensely flavorful so they can be paired with a diverse array of food.

The Castello di Amorosa Tour

If you manage to get a reservation at Castello di Amorosa, you’re welcome to roam the castle grounds and explore the featured rooms (but not the working winery areas). Here are some of the highlights.

• The chapel which used to hold mass on Sunday mornings
• The courtyard in the center of the castle where concerts are often held
• The fermentation area with stainless steel tanks imported from Italy
• The caves lined with French barrels, some over 150 years old
• The armory with authentic medieval pieces imported from Europe
• The torture chamber featuring grotesque devices from medieval times
• The Great Hall with high arching ceilings and exquisitely-painted Tuscan frescos
• The upper rooms with a beautiful view of the castle and surrounding Napa Valley

Castello di Amorosa Wine Tasting

Castello di Amorosa offers wine tasting by reservation only. Each experience includes a complimentary tasting of five wines from an extensive wine menu or a Muscat Grape juice as a non-alcoholic alternative.

Standing Reserve Tasting: Select five wines from a menu that includes Merlot, Cabernet, Sangiovese, Pinot Noir, Barbera, Chardonnay, Gewürtztraminer, and a collection of dessert and sparkling wines.

Seated Reserve Tasting: Taste five wines from a large list of reserve reds, whites, and a collection of dessert and sparkling wines. Several of these wines have won high honors in respected wine competitions.

You can also do tastings that pair the wines with cheese or chocolate.

Visiting Castello di Amorosa

If you’re planning to visit Castello di Amorosa on your own, be sure to make a reservation in advance of your visit. The address is 4045 North St. Helena Way (Highway 29). The turn off is between St. Helena and Calistoga on Hwy 29, 2 miles south of Calistoga. Watch for a large sign for the castle (you can’t see the castle from the highway).

A great way to experience Castello di Amorosa is on a Napa Valley wine tour. Extranomical Tours offers a Small Group Napa Valley Reserve Tour with stops at Castello di Amorosa and two other elite Napa wineries. You’ll even have a chance for a photo stop at the Golden Gate Bridge on your way back to San Francisco! Departs Thursdays, Fridays, and Sundays from major hotels.

Castello di Amorosa FAQs

Is Castello di Amorosa a real castle?

Castello di Amorosa is modeled after a medieval castle in the Italian Tuscan style. It’s a real castle in the sense that it was built using traditional methods and built to historical specifications. However, it’s a modern castle that was built in the 1900s and used primarily as a tourist attraction.

What movie was filmed at Castello di Amorosa?

The Adam Sandler movie Bedtime Stories was filmed at Castello di Amorosa. It was also used as a location for the Disney+ series The Quest.

Do you need a reservation to visit Castello di Amorosa?

Yes, you need to make a reservation to visit Castello di Amorosa for a tour or wine tasting. Tastings last for 75 minutes and are available on weekdays and weekends. Call 707-967-6272 to make a booking. Or take a Napa Valley tour with Extranomical, which includes a stop at Castello di Amorosa.

How much is the tour of Castello di Amorosa?

A tour of Castello di Amorosa costs $75 and lasts for 1 hour and 50 minutes. A seated tasting experience cost $60. You can book a Napa Valley tour with Extranomical for $299, which includes three wine tasting as well as luxury transportation to and from your hotel in San Francisco.