Wine Tasting and Tour of Castello di Amorosa at Napa Valley, CA

On our last summer’s visit to my daughter-in-law’s family in Northern California, we swung by Napa Valley for wine tasting and a tour of one of California's finest vineyards.

We visited Castello di Amorosa, a beautiful 13th-century Tuscan castle made of high brick and stone walls and towers. It looked every inch like a fortified Medieval Castle.

Let us take you on a tour of the castle and see the different rooms and its beautiful architecture.

The Entrance

We almost missed the entrance because it has a small sign under the shadow of a big tree. We passed by the acres of grape plants until we reached the entrance to the castle.

A reservation was required so we booked a Standing Reserve Tasting for $50/person with a choice of 5 wines from their wine menu and access to some of the rooms.

We went up the stairs and walked on the bridge. We were not let in until we showed our reservations. The bridge gave us a glimpse of the awesome 13th-century style and was excited to view the rest of the castle.

The Truncated Tower and View of Its Surrounding and Vineyards

It is a terrace with wide open space and is ideal for alfresco wine tasting and food pairing. It offered a stunning view of its vineyards, distant mountains, and beautiful landscapes as far as the eyes can see.

In one corner is an interesting piece of a big wood with humungous stone. It is called a catapult, a ballistic weapon in the medieval ages. It was used to manually launch the big stone at a great distance and without gunpowder to fend off invaders. We learned something about warfare weapons in the early ages.

Great Hall

Great Hall or dining hall is the most luxurious room in the Castle. Meals with multi-courses were served when the Baron of the Castle entertains and hosts events. It’s surrounded by walls with hand-painted Italian frescoes.

The Chapel

Castello di Amorosa also has a chapel just like any of the Medieval Castles. Mass was previously celebrated in the chapel but the County required a permit so they stopped it. It is now used as a gathering place for people touring the castle and as shelter during bad weather.

Just like the other rooms in the castle, everything is hand-made. There are also frescoes on the altar and on the walls.

Frescoes depicting hell

More Rooms and Passages

This is the 13th-century Courtyard surrounded by bricks and stone walls and loggias. It is the center of events in any Medieval Castle.

These are the passages and stairs going down the castle. Only the guided tours have access to what’s below, but for us, we were just content to think of some secrets and mysteries as implied by the structures.

The Wine Tasting

Wine tasting usually involves at least 4 of 5 glasses of your choice of wine, so I usually end up tipsy before I finish my last one. So this time, I opted for a non-alcoholic treat – the flavorful and aromatic grape juice made from Muscat Canelli wine grapes.

Cheers!!! My hubby went for both reds and everything else the wine steward recommended. and politely listened while the guy gave some tips for a more enjoyable experience - hold the wine glass at the stem rather than the bowl, swirl, and smell the wine but don’t dive your nose into the glass,😊 sip, and don’t drink too quickly.

Hubby actually had a blast! Me? I truly enjoyed the ambiance. Hey, we were under the Tuscan sun! We ended up taking home 4 bottles of IL PASSITO Late Harvest Sauvignon Blanc/Semillon and of course my favorite Muscat Canelli.

Thank you for reading.