Brooks Painter

Winemaker, Castello di Amorosa

Brooks Painter has been called “the winemaker’s winemaker” because of his extensive expertise and prominence as a wine industry leader among his peers. He has been the Director of Winemaking at Castello di Amorosa since 2005 and is responsible for the winery’s portfolio of more than 40 different wines. He also oversees viticultural and grape growing operations, supervising nearly 350 acres of estate vineyards as well as contracts with outside growers. Castello di Amorosa’s steady stream of accolades substantiates his expertise with awards including “Winemaker of the Year 2015” from the American Fine Wine Competition, and “Winemaker of the Year 2013” at the San Francisco International Wine Competition.
Born in San Francisco, Brooks grew up in Northern California. He graduated from the University of California, Santa Cruz with a double major in Chemistry and Biology. He went on to complete additional coursework and seminars in viticulture and winemaking.
Before coming to V. Sattui winery, Brooks was a winemaker at Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars, Robert Mondavi Winery in Napa, Leeward Winery in Ventura, CA, and Felton-Empire Vineyards in Felton, CA. Brooks has served as President and Board Member for the Napa Valley Wine Technical Group and has been a technical reviewer for enology research proposals submitted to the American Vineyard Foundations, a non-profit organization funded by the wine industry to provide grant money for research and development projects. His research on biochemistry and sensory evaluation of wine has been published in The American Journal of Viticulture and Enology, Biochemistry, Practical Winery & Vineyard and Wines & Vines. Brooks is a member of the American Society of Enology and Viticulture and a former chair of the Microbiology Committee for C.E.R.A. (California Enological Research Association).
Brooks and his wife Beth have lived in Napa for the past twenty years. Their two grown children, Miles and Emily, are now enjoying the wine tasting and winery visits that used to bore them to tears! Brooks and Beth are involved in charitable organizations in Napa Valley as well as being active in local community and public planning issues. As a family, they enjoy traveling, skiing/snowboarding, sailing, hiking and cooking.

Country born: USA

Education: He received his Bachelors of Arts in Chemistry and Biology from The University of California at Santa Cruz in 1980, during which time he discovered his interest and passion about wine.

Years in the wine industry: 30+ years

Honors / Awards:
2013 San Francisco International Wine Competition: Winemaker of the Year.

Winemaking Philosophy:
Castello di Amorosa wines reflect a balance of Old World style and the terrior of the Napa Valley and surrounding vineyards in Anderson Valley, Carneros and Santa Barbara County-- regions selected by winemaker, Brooks Painter, to optimize the flavor and varietal components of the grapes.

Castello di Amorosa combines traditional wine making methods with technologically advanced wine making equipment and techniques. As a result, the wines show intense flavors that are eloquently balanced and similar to the hand-crafted wines produced in central Tuscany and Umbria regions of Italy- the homeland of Dario Sattui, owner and fourth generation Italian.