Last week, my wife and I explored Castello di Amorosa (Castle of Love) in Napa Valley. After a guided tour, we tasted wine with some friendly folks who were visiting from Michigan, Colorado, and Nebraska. We also met a young couple that was visiting from France who shared that the California wine experience was much different than in France. They found California wine much more varied and sweeter. What I found interesting was their comments about their experience in America. They shared that in their country, people were more service-oriented; they are friendly when they are providing a service, but that Americans were much more outgoing with their friendliness in general and without any other reason than to just be friendly.
As a native Californian, I have yet to meet a fellow American I did not like, so I was not at all surprised by this comment. It reminded me of when my wife and I were on one of our first dates before we got married. We were watching a movie at a drive in theater and we headed to the concision stand for some popcorn. Along the way, I talked with multiple people and shared some stories and some laughs. After getting back to the car, she asked, Do you know those people? Nope, never met them before in my life. She commented that is crazy; that would never happen in China; people are not friendly like that in China. Yup, another reason why I feel blessed to live in America is that our people are just cooler and more friendly like that.
Below are just a few facts about Castello di Amorosa. We really enjoyed the experience and will certainly visit again when we are in the area. We did enjoy the wine too, and we made sure to bring back enough to enjoy the experience a little longer after our return home. 😀
Authentically built, 13th-century medieval Tuscan-style castle and winery.
Medieval designs and construction methods were employed to create the Castello; 30 years in the making - 15 years of actual construction
- 136.000 SQUARE FEET OR 3 ACRES OF ROOMS
- 5 DEFENSIVE TOWERS WITH BATTLEMENTS
- 2,000 POUND HAND-HEWN DOORS FROM ITALY
- 107 DISTINCTIVE ROOMS WITH 95 DEVOTED TO WINEMAKING
- 8 LEVELS WITH 4 UNDERGROUND. MAKING TWO-THIRDS OF THE CASTELLO UNDERGROUND
All ironwork including lamps, gates, and door hardware was hand-forged by Italian artisans.
All doors and windows were made by Italian artisans and feature leaded glass in windows.
Over 200 containers of handmade antique bricks, tiles, doors, windows, and furnishings were brought over from Europe.
Main features include a drawbridge and moat, 5 towers, ramparts, 3 courtyards, a Great Hall, Noble’s Apartment, a Church, a Deep Well, 2 vaulted loggias, an Outdoor Oven, Prison and Torture Chamber, an Armory, beautiful brick vaulted ceilings, Main Tasting Room, Knight’s Room and wine aging cellars.
CONSTRUCTION FOREMEN: Paolo Ardito, Lars Nimskov
ARCHITECT: Dario Satrui and Lars Nimskov
Learn more about Castello di Amorosa HERE
