Valentine's Day 2020: we spend it in Castello di Spessa, do you?

Only a few days to go until Valentine's Day 2020 and probably, if you have a sweetheart (or sweetheart, as in my case!) you are thinking of organising something very romantic. So I want to give you a wonderful idea by sharing with you what Francesco and I will be doing that weekend... we can't wait! Before I even tell you our plans though, I'd like to thank Barbara Pali water bottle (who, from what Marina told me, I can't wait to meet), owner of the Spessa Castlefor the invitation, and the fantastic Marina Tagliaferri of the Agora Press Office in Cormòns (GO) for the splendid organisation. As you may have guessed, we will spend a wonderful Valentine's Day in Castello di Spessa, which will actually include an entire weekend in the Gorizia Collio!

"Romance is in our nature"romantic is the very essence of the Spessa Castle in Capriva del Friuliwhich, with its unmistakable silhouette, towers over the summit of a small hill in the heart of the Gorizia Collioland of great wines and ancient history in Friuli-Venezia Giulia. Immersed in the greenery of a magnificent Italian garden, surrounded by the vineyards of the estate to which it gives its name, the manor house of medieval origin is today the heart of a refined Golf & Wine Resort. In the castle are fifteen suites furnished with furniture from the 1700s and 1800s from Italy and Central Europe and, dug into the hill below the manor house, the oldest and most scenic wine cellar in Collio, where the estate's fine wines are aged. For centuries home to the lords of the Friulian and Triestine nobility, it had among its illustrious guests also Giacomo Casanovathe seducer par excellence, to whom it is dedicated in the Italian-style park a literary stroll, punctuated by wrought-iron cartouches bearing a dozen of his sentences on love, women, life.

So there's nothing more romantic than Spessa Castle to spend a Lovers' Day! 💘 To welcome us, in the scenic cellars excavated beneath the castle, there will be a welcome toast with the wine of lovethe prized Pinot Noir dedicated to Casanova 🍷 , who loved the wines of Spessa so much that he described them in his Memoirs as 'of excellent quality'.  

In the evening, a refined dinner by candlelight in front of the fireplace at the gourmet restaurant 'La Tavernetta al Castello"The 'Hotel' is the result of the renovation of an old farmhouse at the foot of the castle. Lo chef Antonino Venica will delight our palates with the Valentine's Day Grand Menu, built with dishes inspired by love (you will find out in the next photo). Waiting for us in a secluded room will be a designer, who will give us a quick and amusing portrait to keep as a souvenir of this romantic evening. 

Valentine's Day 2020 menu

Welcome drink with frivolities

Appetisers

The langoustine, prawn and squid on creamed corn with squid ink

Mangalica pork, canary and Soča rose in mulled wine with horseradish emulsion

First Dishes

Acquerello rice with turnip tops, sea bass carpaccio and its roe

Bottoni ripieni di baccalà mantecato e burro alla nocciola e capperi di Pantelleria

Second Dish

Asado of Prussian beef glazed with black garlic on cabbage salad

Dessert

Soft chocolate and vanilla creamy with citrus zest and red fruit sauce

Coffee and delicious biscuits

For the overnight stay we were able to choose between the classic elegance of the suites in the Castle furnished with period furniture (including the much sought-after Casanova Suite), the country chic atmosphere of the rooms in the Tavernetta, or the absolute peace of the resort's most remote location, the Casale in Collina nestled among the vineyards. A delicious gift awaits us in our room.

Castello di Spessa organised a Valentine's Day 2020 package irresistible understanding:

• Welcome toast in the historic cellars;
• Dinner with Valentine's Day Grand Menu at the gourmet restaurant 'La Tavernetta al Castello', drinks included;
• Valentine's night in a double room;
• Gift in the room;
• A delicious breakfast buffet;
• Portrait of the lovers as a souvenir of the evening.

The price varies depending on the type of accommodation: suites in the Castle (330 € per couple), country chic rooms in the restaurant 'La Tavernetta al Castello' (280 € per couple) and 'Casale in Collina' (250 € per couple). For information and reservations please call +39 0481 808124 or visit the official website!

What can I say? I can't wait to tell you how it went... also because the programme of our stay in the beautiful Spessa Castle is also full of other activities that I can't wait to reveal to you!

Cheers ❤️🍷 

Chiara

P.S. On this occasion I will also meet in person Valentina Ursicwho will be waiting for us at 6 p.m. for a guided tasting of Castello di Spessa wines! 🤗

All my notes on wine and food in one book.