Castello di Spessa: wine tasting between history and a secret bunker
A glass of Pinot Nero in the cellars where Casanova once stayed
Capriva del Friuli, Gorizia
In the heart of the Gorizia Collio, Castello di Spessa brings together wine, medieval history, and a Second World War bunker transformed into a wine cellar. A tasting here is much more than a visit to a winery.
Castello di Spessa stands on a gentle hill in Capriva del Friuli, surrounded by vineyards. The estate dates back to the 13th century and was home to Friulian nobility for centuries. In 1773, Giacomo Casanova stayed here as the guest of Count Luigi Torriani and, in his Mémoires, praised the wines of Spessa as being “of excellent quality.”
The winery tour begins in the original medieval cellars—the oldest in the Collio—and descends to a military bunker discovered in 1987 during restoration works, 18 metres underground, where the temperature remains a constant 14°C. This is where the estate’s finest wines are aged, including Casanova, a Collio DOC Pinot Nero dedicated to its illustrious Venetian guest.
The tasting includes a selection of the estate’s signature wines, accompanied by an introduction to the winemaking process and the unique terroir of the Collio.
This is an independent editorial feature.
Photo ©castellodispessa.it
Practical Information
Location: Capriva del Friuli, Gorizia
Duration: 2 hours
Estimated price: From €15 per person
