Bonjour! This week’s carte postale features the Castello di Amorosa, a winery built in the style of a 13th century Tuscan castle. It’s located in the Napa Valley town of Calistoga, California, which is about 77 miles/ 124 km north of San Francisco.
On September 28, 2020, the Castello di Amorosa farmhouse (pictured above to the right of the castle) sustained significant fire damage during the Glass Fire.
The farmhouse contained 120,000 bottles of wine (retail value: approximately $5 million). It will take 2-3 years to rebuild, according to owner and fourth-generation winemaker, Dario Sattui. The castle itself was not harmed.
I bought this postcard during my family’s visit to the Napa Valley castle winery in 2015.
About Castello di Amorosa (Castle of Love)
- The castle winery spans 121,000 square feet (three acres) with 107 rooms, four underground levels, and four above-ground levels
- The construction took 15 years and opened to the public on April 7, 2007
- It includes a moat, drawbridge, five towers, high defensive ramparts, courtyards and loggias, a chapel, stables, an armory, and even a torture chamber
Until the next Wednesday Postcard, stay safe. A bientôt!
Thank you to all the brave firefighters for battling the California wildfires.
Bonjour: A Francophile Blog 
Sorry to hear about the fire damage.
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I’ve heard they have plans to repair and rebuild. Thankfully, there were no injuries.
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What a beautiful winery! It’s devastating that it got damaged by the California fires this year, but there’s still hope that it’ll recover and continue to produce more incredible wines in the future!
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The castle is definitely photogenic! As for the wine, yes, let’s keep the faith 🍇
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That’s fascinating
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