What do tours of the vineyard in a horse-drawn carriage, food and wine pairings, and chocolate served with reserve wines have to do with what’s going on at Castello di Amorosa, Dario Sattui’s authentically-styled 12th century Tuscan castle winery?
It’s all part of an effort to expand the experience of those crossing the drawbridge to explore the Castello.
Vineyard tours through the Castello’s historic, 171-acre property debuted earlier this month. Food and wine pairings in the Royal Apartment with Castle sommelier Mary Davidek began last month. And Castello di Amorosa has expanded its reserve wine tasting to include Belgium chocolate from Napa’s Le Belge Chocolatier.
“We are trying to create a slower pace of life here at the Castello,” said Castello President Georg Salzner. “Our guests can relax in the horse-drawn carriage and learn about the winegrape varieties, rootstock selection, clones, trellis selection and canopy management.”
Black Clydesdales, pulling a traditional carriage from the late 1800s, now escort guests on a tour of the historic property and vineyards. The tours pass by the first school house in the upper Napa Valley, the Nash House, formerly a stage coach stop and home to Colonel William Nash, who was one of the first to plant vineyards in California in 1850.
Winding through the forest, the tour includes Native American petroglyphs and Lake Mario (the Castello’s man-made lake), and finishes in the Castello’s private tasting room for a reserve wine and chocolate pairing. Horse-drawn vineyard tours continue on May 23, May 30, June 6, June 13 and June 20. The tours are priced at $68 per person.
The Royal Pairings is a special food and wine pairing event held in the Castello’s Royal Apartment. A typical menu includes foie gras en terrine, Sottocenere, Saint Andre triple cream cheese and a mini slider of beef, lamb and turkey. A tour of the Castello precedes the food and wine pairing.
Held every Friday, Saturday and Sunday, the Royal Pairing is by reservation only, and also is priced at $68.
For more information, contact Castello di Amorosa at 707-967-6272.
