Castello di Amorosa

Though opened in 2007, the castle includes many historical touches. The Great Hall houses a 500-year-old fireplace, and all the ironwork, antique bricks, and tiles were handmade in Italy and other parts of Europe. Like a real medieval castle, the building includes a watch tower, torture chamber, secret passageways, and a church.

The Napa Valley Wine Trolley and the Napa Valley Wine Train both stop at Castello di Amorosa. Private and small-group Napa Valley wine tours often stop at the castle for a tasting (wine tasting fees are not always included), as well as other Napa wineries like V. Sattui Winery and Robert Mondavi.

• The castle and winery is a must-see for wine lovers and architecture buffs.

• Strollers, selfie sticks, and drones are not allowed on the property.

• Winery tours and tastings often sell out on weekends and holidays, so it’s a good idea to book ahead.

• Children are welcome at the winery, and the entrance fee for minors includes a cup of grape juice and access to a coloring table in the Knight’s Hall tasting room.

• Wear comfortable shoes and expect to walk or stand for about an hour during the tour.

• The winery is fully ADA compliant, with an elevator to all levels on the wine tour.

The winery is located off Highway CA-29 in the northern area of Napa Valley between Calistoga and St. Helena. Get there by private car, or by booking a guided tour, the Napa Valley Wine Trolley, or the Napa Valley Wine Train.

Castello di Amorosa is open seven days a week with extended hours on weekends. The winery can become extremely busy on weekends and holidays, particularly in the afternoon, so plan to visit on a weekday or before lunch on a weekend.

Castello di Amorosa produces chardonnay, merlot, cabernet sauvignon, sangiovese, and gewürztraminer, among other varietals. If you enjoy one of the wines you taste there and have dinner plans in the valley, be sure to pick up a bottle or two. The winery has partnered with select restaurants in Napa Valley—the region has more Michelin-star restaurants per capita than any wine region on earth—to offer free corkage on Castello di Amorosa wines.

There are multiple combined tastings and tours of Castello di Amorosa to consider. The shortest tour, the Diamond Estate Tour and Wine Tasting, takes around two hours. The longest and most extensive tour, Cabernet Is King, takes about 2.5 hours.

Castello di Amorosa is most famous for its distinctive look, as it’s modeled after a 14th-century Tuscan castle. The medieval architecture of the winery, with its commitment to the theme throughout—including a moat, drawbridge, and torture chamber— creates a unique experience for wine tasting in the Napa Valley.

The most basic tasting at Castello di Amorosa involves trying five wines and has no set time, although most visitors find one hour is enough time to enjoy tastings and explore the castle. You can also do tastings as part of the various winery tours, but these tours take longer.

No, to visit Castello di Amorosa you must make a reservation for a tasting or tour, or place an order for pickup. Security at the front gate of the winery will not let you through without a reservation or order, even if you don’t want to participate in wine tasting.

On September 28, 2020, Castello di Amorosa suffered comprehensive damage to its farmhouse building when the Glass Fire swept through Napa Valley and Northern California. The castle and wine cellars were unaffected, but the farmhouse was destroyed and with it approximately 120,000 bottles of wine stored inside.

A tasting session at Castello di Amorosa starts at US$60. It's US$75 for the basic tour and tasting. Cost increases for tasting session add-ons or for longer, more in-depth experiences. Members of the Amici del Barone club receive complimentary entry for tastings and discounts on the winery’s tours.