Castello di Amorosa
Castello di Amorosa
4.5
10:00 AM - 5:30 PM
Monday
10:00 AM - 5:30 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 5:30 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 5:30 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 5:30 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 5:30 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 5:30 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 5:30 PM
About
This medieval Tuscan castle and winery stands out in Napa Valley as one of its most unusual buildings. At this gorgeous location on the hillside above Calistoga, you can explore the castle's Grand Barrel Room, chapel, and Great Hall, and more curious rooms like the Torture Chamber and dungeon. Pick from a variety of tasting tours to sample some of their award-winning wines, paired with charcuterie, cheeses, and chocolate. The best time to visit is from August through October to catch Napa’s harvest season—it gets busy so make your reservations early to secure your slot. – Tripadvisor
Duration: 1-2 hours
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- Adventurer2841635 contributionsFun tour wine okIf you are looking for a unique tour of a replica of a castle then this is the place. We paid up for the guided tour and cheese pairing. This winery is commercialized so lots of people. I would recommend the tour however we did not like the wine.Visited September 2023Travelled as a coupleWritten September 27, 2023
- Tom3318Ancaster, Canada12 contributionsGreat experience with a unique tourGreat winery, the wine and the tour was fantastic with our tour guide Stephen our tour guide was so much fun.and knowledgeable He told us lots of great history stories and knew so much about the winery. The Diamond Mountain tour is worth the price. If you are going to do any tour, do this one. The wine is also very nice wine with various price pointsVisited September 2023Travelled as a coupleWritten September 30, 2023
- DJLJShelby Township, Michigan50 contributionsBeautiful and NoisyLoved the look of this place, medieval and beautiful, but it was pretty noisy! They are probably very popular, hence all of the noise and people, but for tastings and educational tours, I prefer a little more of a quiet atmosphere. I missed a lot of what our guide had to say. Wines were very good, especially the Chardonnay Reserve.Visited September 2023Travelled with friendsWritten October 2, 2023
- Lilly M6 contributionsWelcome to the Experience of a Lifetime!Castello di Amorosa was an experience all on its own. The self-guided tour was astonishing, and it felt as if we were in another country. The views and setup of the entire facility were to perfection. Prior to our tour of the grounds, where each section of grapes was labeled by the type of wine it would produce, we had a wonderful host, Frederico. He had only been there for 15 days but knew everything about each wine he served us. I love learning about the method in which different varieties of wine are made, and he certainly knew his way around. That being said, I would strongly recommend requesting Frederico for a wonderful experience. The wines were fantastic, and as a red wine drinker, I loved trying the unique reds, along with mixing them up and starting with a couple of types of rosé-style wines. My husband loved the dessert wines. However, I took note of a few of my favorites. We started off with a smooth, double gold rosé that was delicious, despite being considered a dry wine. If you love a good rosé, the "Gewürztraminer" was simply amazing. It was nothing like any wine I have tried before, and the floral notes really made it unique. As Frederico said, once you try it, you will recognize it easily the next time you have it. I believe this to be 100% true as it was an unforgettable tasting. The "Wine Enthusiast Merlot" was delectable with a nice touch of spice and a smooth finish. We also tried two cabernets, the "James Suckling Cabernet Sauvignon," my personal favorite of the two, which was very full-bodied and smooth. My second favorite cabernet, and one that Frederico mentioned is often tastier as it ages was the "Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon." This was a delicious cabernet. However, as he mentioned, it would be much tastier with a little age. Overall, I feel as though you are paying in large part for the experience, but it is an experience of a lifetime, and the wines are very good, so it is well worth it. I strongly encourage Castello di Amorosa for both the wine and the experience and time we spent there. It was well worth it. Reservations are a must! Thank you again, Frederico! Lillian MareddyVisited October 2023Travelled as a coupleWritten October 29, 2023
- TerrasTravelsLas Vegas, Nevada2,882 contributionsCastle NapaThis is a must when visiting Napa! Make reservations far in advance! If you don’t have a reservation, they will not even let you on the grounds. The venue is spectacular in and of itself! You can roam the castle! And there’s goats and animals too! Once inside when you have your tasting, they are really accommodating, knowledgeable, and the customer service is impeccable! My family, friends, and I had such a good time here! Definitely get the cheese and the chocolate! Food and wine divine! Their wine stoppers are pretty cool if you notice them! They also sell them in the shop as well as many other things and it’s fun to look around down there! We definitely got more than our moneys worth, and will definitely be back when in Napa again!Visited July 2023Travelled with friendsWritten November 2, 2023
- Steven LOdessa, Delaware496 contributionsWonderful experienceWe needed a reservation (no walk-ups), and when we arrived, we were brought right to our table in the outdoor tasting area. Eva R was our wine expert, and she did an excellent job making us feel welcome, attending to the table, and explaining all the different wines that we enjoyed. It was a very relaxed wine-tasting event, and we liked all the different varieties that we sampled. Eva did a great job explaining them to us so that we understood what we were drinking before we sampled it. Our teenage son came with us, and he was able to sample the fancy grape juice too. Fun afternoon!Visited August 2023Travelled with familyWritten November 2, 2023
- misssvalEdmonton, Canada14 contributionsAmazing! A must go in NapaAmazing wine and the castle is breath taking! Family friendly which is rare in Napa. Kids had chocolate and enjoyed the mini farm and the castle. The Reds were all delicious, my fav was the IL Barone. Bought some to bring home and my friends also loved it.Visited December 2023Travelled with familyWritten January 30, 2024
- rwheelerSanta Clarita, California823 contributionsOutstanding visit!I joined my husband on a work conference and this was the excursion the conference group too us on. Hands down an amazing experience. Upon arrival we were handed a glass of bubbly, and then a tasting for our tour of the castle. It’s amazing to think this castle was made in the 2000’. You feel as if you have been transported back in time to Europe. We were then treated to a fabulous tasting lunch experience in the Great Hall prepared by Tre Posti Catering. We then visited the great gift shop to bring souvenirs home from our memorable outing. If in the area again we will definitely be returning. Oh, and the wine is good too! Try their specialty sweet wine La Fantasia.Visited February 2024Travelled on businessWritten February 17, 2024
- JyssSaint Paul, Minnesota632 contributionsGood ambianceMy mom and I stopped here. Cool grounds great view of the area. Castle is neat. There were chickens around the property.we were a little early for our reservation, but that was not a problem. Like all of the area, it's expensive side for tasting. The ambiance is nice in the tasting room at one of the lower levels. There is no cell service for us there. Staff was friendly and helpful. For some reason, my mom always got larger pours than me. We bought a few bottles including one of the discount wines in the gift shop.Visited March 2024Travelled with friendsWritten March 2, 2024
- WakefulDreamsNew Jersey173 contributionsGreat tour and wine tastingHad a great tour and tasting of the vineyard. My favorite part was the cellars and all the rooms that store wine. It’s huge down there. It does get crowded but it was nice for both the view and the wine tasting. Knowing that you’re not going to an intimate tasting allowed me to enjoy the tour for what it was. Didn’t love the wines but that was a personal thing. Overall a fun experience.Visited February 2024Travelled with friendsWritten March 15, 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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lestrella2021
1 contribution
Jun 2021
Really bad organized. The tour started late, even though they asked to show up 15 min earlier. The tour guide seemed tired and overworked, talked really fast and very little information, just to get us to the tasting. Our waiter was ok but he lied about the price of an opener, said it was 50% off the price when in reality it wasn’t. The wines are good, they are really pushing you to purchase, not like other wine tastings. We paid for the Belgium Chocolates and we never got them. No one brought them or give them to us at the end.
Written July 2, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Eleanore Ye
San Francisco, CA8 contributions
Jun 2021 • Friends
I’ve thought long and hard to even share my experience since it’s been so long but I remember being so uncomfortable that I have to share. I was 8 months pregnant in June and I brought my best friend to celebrate their engagement here since it was scenic. I bought advanced tasting tickets for all of us to enter the winery and upon entry, saw signs that if unvaccinated, wear a mask. Being pregnant, I was only one dose in at the time and as I got to the tasting room indoors, I felt more comfortable wearing a mask. Not only did the wine attendant (Victor from Medellin, Colombia according to his name tag) kept insisting I remove my mask because no one seemed “sick” around me while his colleagues who are clearly masked around him regardless of their vaccination status. On top of that, he stopped pouring tastings for me after 1 pour because I gave my glass to my friends and lectured me on making my friends drunk and driving but clearly I was the designated driver since I was pregnant and not drinking and I wanted to be part of the experience I paid for to at least smell the aromas of the wine. He argued back that I did not pay for the tasting, I paid for the entry and tastings are “free” when clearly my tickets say tastings. Victor even called over his colleague, Alexander, to both tell me that if I did not like what they said, go call a manager. I proceeded to report the uncomfortable experience to the check in manager, Kristine, to share my experience and share my contact info and I even emailed their customer service dept when I got home but til this day I have not heard back. It was such an unpleasant experience and made me feel almost discriminated for being pregnant and wanting to show my best friend a good Napa experience but it was such a damper to such a celebratory day. This place has become so popular that it has depleted its customer service and it clearly shows that they don’t care about one or two or more bad experiences since they have their names out there. Please do better.
Written October 26, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ivanhu111
1 contribution
Aug 2021
The estate was pretty. However, the wine was subpar and the server was worse. Their reds are nothing to write home about. We've had better $20 bottles. Although their dessert wine, La Fantasia, was fine, it was not worth the drive.
The server however, my god. Pray that you do not get the same one as we did. This was the smallest amount of wine we have ever received at a tasting; it was barely a sip of wine. Save money and don't bother with their chocolate pairing because when we asked our server which ones to eat with which ones, he replied that they were, and I quote, "for fun." Gave us no directions on which to pair with what type or what type of chocolates they were. When we asked about the difference between their dessert wines and ice wines, our server gave us no reply. While we were a larger party, there were multiple occasions in which he forgot to serve someone wine or mixed up their order.
All in all, save your money and go somewhere else.
The server however, my god. Pray that you do not get the same one as we did. This was the smallest amount of wine we have ever received at a tasting; it was barely a sip of wine. Save money and don't bother with their chocolate pairing because when we asked our server which ones to eat with which ones, he replied that they were, and I quote, "for fun." Gave us no directions on which to pair with what type or what type of chocolates they were. When we asked about the difference between their dessert wines and ice wines, our server gave us no reply. While we were a larger party, there were multiple occasions in which he forgot to serve someone wine or mixed up their order.
All in all, save your money and go somewhere else.
Written September 20, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kitty
Detroit, MI3 contributions
Aug 2021 • Couples
We visited Castello di Amorosa in August 2021 as one of the Napa wine tours we planned for our 1 year wedding anniversary. Although the castle itself is very pretty and picturesque, the wine tasting experience was very average. We booked the standing wine tasting and had a few other couples in our group. They asked us to check-in 15 minutes prior to our reservation time, but just like some other reviewers mentioned on here, we had to wait for 20+ minutes at the entrance to have a guide assigned to our tour. After our guide took us in to the tasting area downstairs, we were pretty much left on our own. Our wine connoisseur seemed less interested in the tasters who were standing and gave more time and attention to the seated tasters (since they paid $10 more?). No recommendations were provided we had to randomly select wine from the list. After he poured us our selected wine, he pretty much disappeared and took very long to come back to us in between tastings, which was frustrating. Also, no water was offered to clear our pallet, we had to ask for it in between tastings. We also didn’t feel very welcomed or treated politely by the wine connoisseur after he asked us where we were from, and we told him we were coming from out of state. He had a somewhat snooty and arrogant behavior. Although the castle gave me some really nice pictures, I will not return.
Written August 31, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Johnsoncabi
Minnesota95 contributions
Oct 2021
We have been to this winery 5 years ago and went back this time on our Napa trip (the only repeat) due to liking it so much! I will mention this time is different in that you need reservations.
You may get reservations online but we kept encountering "system errors" with 2 different computers. We then called and were on hold for 15 minutes before being connected to someone, who did state they also heard a few others had the same issue (not sure what the problem was).
We did the standard tasting and most are occurring outside for seated tastings. You are offered warm blankets if need be, thought that was interesting! Kind of like last time, I do think there is more an element of 'sales pitch' here rather than pure love of the wine, but having said that, it is Always (always) fun, light hearted, jovial!! We had a server who did speak with an accent that was sometimes hard to understand, but added to the experience.
What I love about this place is there are GREAT wines at cheap (for Napa) prices and there are GREAT wines that are mid- range, and GREAT expensive ( $100 +) wines. I truly do appreciate the fact that the cheaper ones, are good ones. We have bought all price ranges over time and have never been disappointed. A secondary thing is the architecture is truly one of a kind, and you may wander around as you wish or do a tour.
Still my favorite place to go!
You may get reservations online but we kept encountering "system errors" with 2 different computers. We then called and were on hold for 15 minutes before being connected to someone, who did state they also heard a few others had the same issue (not sure what the problem was).
We did the standard tasting and most are occurring outside for seated tastings. You are offered warm blankets if need be, thought that was interesting! Kind of like last time, I do think there is more an element of 'sales pitch' here rather than pure love of the wine, but having said that, it is Always (always) fun, light hearted, jovial!! We had a server who did speak with an accent that was sometimes hard to understand, but added to the experience.
What I love about this place is there are GREAT wines at cheap (for Napa) prices and there are GREAT wines that are mid- range, and GREAT expensive ( $100 +) wines. I truly do appreciate the fact that the cheaper ones, are good ones. We have bought all price ranges over time and have never been disappointed. A secondary thing is the architecture is truly one of a kind, and you may wander around as you wish or do a tour.
Still my favorite place to go!
Written October 16, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Vitalogist
1 contribution
Mar 2022
New, gorgeous castle build of ancient materials. This place was obviously built by a kindred spirit with a love of the medieval period. I figured this ornate winery would charge extra for crappy wine, just because they could. Instead, we found very reasonable prices for some of the best wine we've ever tried. John B. was a magnificently attentive, generous, and personable host. I could go on and on, but instead, I'm just going to tell you this place could be the same once in a lifetime experience for you like it was for us. And worth the reservation.
Written March 30, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
HelenVee
18 contributions
Jan 2020
We had a very large group come on a Thursday and they accommodated us very well. The tasting room is actually several rooms, varying from cozy private rooms with seating to counter standing. We had a great time and bought enough bottles to give one of the locals a year membership!
Written January 28, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
lemosd02
Orlando, FL81 contributions
Jul 2021 • Couples
This is a must see when you come to Napa for the first time. The Castello’s architecture is beautiful and with a nice weather you can take amazing pictures here. When you pay for the tasting, you are really paying an entrance fee because the wine is not comparable to others in the area and for the same price. Make a reservation just like all other wineries, without one you cant really see anything.
Written August 1, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Margaret L
Charlotte, NC4 contributions
Apr 2022 • Family
My husband and two kids were very excited about this visit. From the reviews, I expected an experience that both my husband and two children would enjoy. Unfortunately, we were all extremely underwhelmed.
The castle is extraordinary and you can tell a lot of money went into its creation. I wish more money had been put into customer experience. It was raining when we arrived, and we were directed to a tiny patio umbrella with several other families to stage until “somebody called us”. When we were finally called, they told us we could “go ahead”. We had no idea where we were headed, but finally found the tasting room after several minutes of wandering around. Once we got there, we weren’t greeted. Our server put the list of wines down in front of us and told us to pick 5. He also sternly said that the kids would get 1 tiny, flimsy paper cup of grape juice and no more.
We were so disappointed - there were so many ways he could’ve put a little more effort into making it a memorable experience. He didn’t talk about the wines despite numerous tries in my part. At one point, he directed me to read the back of the wine bottle. The wines weren’t great, but we were there more for the experience with our family and we were solely disappointed. I expected the kids to have at least a couple of different grape juices to “taste”.
We drove 90 minutes from San Francisco and would not recommend this winery.
The castle is extraordinary and you can tell a lot of money went into its creation. I wish more money had been put into customer experience. It was raining when we arrived, and we were directed to a tiny patio umbrella with several other families to stage until “somebody called us”. When we were finally called, they told us we could “go ahead”. We had no idea where we were headed, but finally found the tasting room after several minutes of wandering around. Once we got there, we weren’t greeted. Our server put the list of wines down in front of us and told us to pick 5. He also sternly said that the kids would get 1 tiny, flimsy paper cup of grape juice and no more.
We were so disappointed - there were so many ways he could’ve put a little more effort into making it a memorable experience. He didn’t talk about the wines despite numerous tries in my part. At one point, he directed me to read the back of the wine bottle. The wines weren’t great, but we were there more for the experience with our family and we were solely disappointed. I expected the kids to have at least a couple of different grape juices to “taste”.
We drove 90 minutes from San Francisco and would not recommend this winery.
Written April 15, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Marilyn P
Cumming, GA36 contributions
Jun 2022
We visited 4 wineries on our trip to Napa and this was my least favorite. It's a total gimmick. Designed to look ancient, but it's only 15 years old. Owners have spent a fortune to create this theme-park style winery (moat, dungeon, torture room, chapel, even a small zoo, etc), but I just wasn't impressed, I've been to real medieval castles and wineries in Europe and this is just not comparable. Our wine tasting was OK. Our server was Italian and seemed to be knowledgeable but his accent was thick and I had trouble understanding all he said. The other 3 wineries (all of which now require advance reservations) were much nicer and had more beautiful views of the landscape & vineyards. My feeling was that this "castello" was created to lure you in to spend money in the gift shop more than the wines. Children were permitted in the wine tasting area, which is unusual. Take the kids maybe for a fun visit to a castle, but as a winery, I'm not a fan.
Written June 20, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sorry don’t know the answer.
We just have the hotel near by
Sorana.
Written October 24, 2021
California Experts,
I have booked a tour @ 9.30 AM, what time should i leave specifically considering traffiic from SFO Downtown, Planning. on Nov 20th Saturday
Written October 23, 2021
I would expect a minimum of a 2 hour drive from SFO downtown to the Castle. Probably best to expect 2.5 hours. The Castle does ask for you to arrive 15 minutes in advance of your tour, but from what I have seen that is not really necessary.. If you have a 9:30 AM tour, you are probably going to want to leave downtown SF at 7 at the latest
Written October 24, 2021
Hi, can I bring my 21 month old with us?
Written April 7, 2021
Hello,
Which hotel would you recommend close to this attraction?
Thank you!
Written October 3, 2019
Hi!
We actually stayed in a bed and breakfast in downtown Napa, Mclelland-Priest B&B! I would definitely recommend. It is a boutique hotel atmosphere with wonderful hosts!
Written October 9, 2019
Staying in San Francisco and taking a day trip. How long will it take us to get here on a Monday mid morning? Want to make reservations but don't know what time to choose.
Written August 17, 2019
Hi! From the city, it will probably take at least 2 hours to drive up there, I'd give it 2.5 hours just to safe :)
Written August 17, 2019
My boyfriend doesn’t drink but we want to do the tour and I want to do the tasting as well. Would it be the same price for him?
Written August 5, 2019
Yes. I don’t drink but the others with us do. The price was worth the tour. It’s an interesting building. Their wines are also excellent and cannot be purchased at stores off the property.
Written August 6, 2019
Can you just go to Castello's store if you don't want to do any tasting or tour?
Written July 5, 2019
I think you can. However, if you do the tour and buy a set of bottles, it would make you eligible for a discount. I'm not exactly sure of the number that you have to buy to be eligible. I bought one Merlot and did not receive a discount.
Written July 6, 2019
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