castello di amorosa is a castle and a winery located near calistoga , california .

first opening its doors to the public in april 2007 , the castle is the pet project of 4th generation vintner , dario sattui , who also owns and operates the v. sattui winery named after his great-grandfather who originally established a winery in san francisco in 1885 after emigrating from italy to california .

the winery sits on property that was once part of an estate owned by edward turner bale .

castello di amorosa

castello di amorosa , calistoga : hours , address , castello di amorosa reviews : 4 . 5 / 5
castello di amorosa looks like a 13th - century castle in the italian countryside .
lars nimskov ( in red jacket ) oversees construction of castello di amorosa in 1998 .
banners marking the 10th anniversary of the completion of castello di amorosa hang on the exterior walls .
we recently took a guided tour of castello di amorosa . here ' s what it was like .
castello di amorosa is a unique experience in napa valley . it ' s a tourist trap , but still worth a visit .
today castello di amorosa produces some of the best wines in the world from it ' s diamond mountain district vineyards surrounding the castello . ( photo : jim sullivan 2010 )
each tour group is sequestered in a small cellar , where they enjoy a complimentary tasting of five current - release wines from castello di amorosa .
please be advised the castello may close our front gates to those without tour reservations at our discretion due to maximum capacity . in consideration for all our visitors safety and enjoyment , strollers are not permitted at castello di amorosa .
the chapel overlooks the napa valley , a perfect spot to pause and relax , a welcome sign that you ' re nearing the castello di amorosa . ( photo : jim sullivan 2010 )
castello di amorosa winery is located off of hwy ca - 29 in the northern part of napa valley , 5 1 / 2 miles north of st . helena and 2 miles south of calistoga . learn more
castello di amorosa has paired with the napa valley wine train to provide guests with this exclusive experience , involving a scenic ride and gourmet meal aboard an elegant pullman dining car followed by a guided tour and wine tasting at the castello . reservations required . learn more
at last we arrived in the grand barrel cellar , the crown jewel of castello di amorosa . the 12 , 000 - square - foot room took two years to build , largely because of its vaulted ceilings .
and it is — sort of . its owner , dario sattui , once wrote :
castello di amorosa appears to be an authentic castle for one reason only . it is an authentic castle , though fancified .
nearly 20 years ago , i purchased the spectacular property upon which i built castello di amorosa . it sat on a hundred - seventy beautiful acres of forest and hills with a stream , a lake , one of the first . . . virtual tour
through rain , occasional snow , cold , heat and heavy winds , we built castello di amorosa , working six days a week , usually ten or more hours a day . over the years , we employed builders from eight different countries and materials from five .
fermentation tanks sit outside , drawing a stark contrast with the brick castle walls . castello di amoroso contains nearly 1 million antique bricks from torn - down austrian palaces .
under the napa county winery definition ordinance , events at castello di amorosa are only permitted pursuant to the use permit and only where they are related to the education and development of the consumer or trade about the wines that can be sold at the winery at retail . corporate , cultural and social events unrelated to such education and development are prohibited ( unless permitted by napa county planning division ) . the winery operating permit for castello di amorosa does not allow the property to host weddings , vow renewals , elopements , or wedding receptions .
looking for the sweeter side of the castello ? find a sweet wine here .
syar’s customer base includes caltrans and the napa county public works department , which use the aggregate base in constructing roads . local landscaping companies , commercial developers and property owners also carry off truckloads of syar’s rock products , perry said . castello di amorosa — a winery near calistoga built as an ancient european castle — features rock from syar .
join castello sommelier mary davidek on a guided tour of the winery followed by an elegant food and wine tasting experience in our royal apartment . an exceptional treat at the castello .
please be advised that on weekends and holidays between the hours of 12 : 30pm and 5 : 00pm castello di amorosa can become extremely busy . in order to insure that all of our guests have the best possible experience , when the castello becomes this busy , we will limit entrance to our wine club members and guests who have made guided tour reservations , followed by all other visitors space permitting . please be aware we do not allow strollers , selfie sticks , or drones on the property .
castello di amorosa is renowned for hosting some of napa valley’s most impressive events in a distinct style that can only be offered in an authentic 13th century castle . featuring 18 , 000 square feet of indoor space and over 8 , 000 square feet of outdoor space ; unique venues at the castello include outdoor terraces , wine caves , hidden rooms , an opulent dinner hall and an expansive courtyard . the space you select will be filled with sophistication and artisanal craftsmanship , as well as a touch of royalty .
it ' s not coincidental that his newly restored , 120 year - old victorian home is called villa amorosa . un ' amorosa in italian means a sweetheart or loved one , and this seemingly never ending castle project , which has cost an estimated $ 30 million so far , is indeed his labor of love .
nestled in the rolling hills of calistoga , california , castello di amorosa is a world - class winery based in a replica of a 13th - century tuscan castle . the owner , dario sattui , is a fourth - generation winemaker and ardent italophile who spent $ 40 million to bring a slice of the old country to napa valley . at 142 , 000 square feet , the castle took more than a decade to build .
when sattui realized that the property ' s former owner , andre bosc , had obtained what was the last permit by napa county for a winery allowing tours and tasting , he decided to do something special . and his dream , castello amorosa , started to become a reality .
walk through the halls of the castello and explore all of the different rooms and the background of each room .
although our permit does not allow us to hold weddings at the castello , we do have a beautiful chapel , which is often used as a gathering place for guests heading off to tour the castello or as an inclement weather option .
with general admission , enjoy roaming access on two levels of the winery and a five wine premium or a six wine reserve tasting in our main tasting room . no reservations are necessary for groups up to 14 guests for general admission . groups of 15 or more can be accommodated for tour and tasting only with prior arrangement ; please contact events and hospitality or visit our large group page . in consideration for all our visitors safety and enjoyment , strollers are not permitted at castello di amorosa . learn more and pricing
construction of the drawbridge steps . the entrance to the castello can be seen in the upper left . photo taken in 2003 .
the room overlooks the courtyard and includes a spacious patio area tucked away behind the castello where guests can enjoy the napa valley sunshine on warm days .
explore our winery with roaming access to two levels of the castello and a five wine premium or a seven wine reserve tasting in our main tasting room .
shop our wide selection of hand - crafted white , rosé , red , and sweet wines , all available exclusively at the castello or on our website .
a food & wine fee is applicable to all events held at castello di amorosa . the food & wine fee is charged per guest , and offers the following inclusions : - event spaces for a reception & seated dining experience - a property tour with our knowledgeable tour guides - a dedicated event manager for the planning process - an on - site banquet manager to oversee event execution - wine selections paired with the selected menu - experienced wine service staff - crystal stemware for water and wine service - castle tables , chairs , and white linens - printed custom menus - votive candles & iron candelabras - parking areas for busses and individual cars
we have partnered with a select number of restaurants throughout the napa valley to offer our guests complimentary corkage on 1 - 2 bottles of castello wines . learn more
enjoy a guided tour of the castello followed by a seated tasting of our premium and reserve wines paired with a selection of local cheeses in this exclusive tour and tasting .
led by a knowledgable guide , explore multiple levels of the castello followed by a tasting of either five of our premium wines or seven limited production , high end reserve wines .
the castello stores its wines in this room where they rest and become immersed with the nuances , spices , and subtle flavors of the french oak barrels in which they age .
castello di amorosa appears to be an authentic castle for one reason only . it is an authentic castle , though fancified . we either used construction methods and materials that would have been used 1 , 000 years ago , or we used very old hand - made materials that had survived up to modern times . a fireplace predating christopher columbus adorns the great hall , and iron maiden from the late renaissance dominates the torture chamber . a wrought iron dragon from the times of napoleon hovers over the massive main door . more than 8 , 000 tons of stone were chiseled , not sawed , by hand to be absolutely authentic . nearly 200 containers of old , hand made materials were shipped from europe to lend authenticity .
general admission pricing includes a map of the winery , wine tasting , and access to the upper levels of the castello , including the main tasting bar and knight ' s hall . does not include access to the lower levels of the castello , including the torture chamber , armory , or the grand barrel room , which are only accessible through our guided tours .
today , the great hall holds approximately 140 people for the finest presentation of food and wine pairings , blind tastings , very special wine club events , and wine and food education events held “castello style . ”
visit our authentically - built , 13th century inspired tuscan castle and winery in world famous napa valley . explore multiple levels of the castle and enjoy a tasting of our italian - style wines , found exclusively at the castello .
enjoy a guided tour of the castello followed by an intimate tasting in our il passito room , including a selection of artisan cheeses chosen specifically to pair with our italian style wines . reservations highly recommended . learn more and pricing
visit our authentically - built , medieval inspired tuscan castle and winery in world famous napa valley . explore multiple levels of our castle winery and enjoy a tasting of our italian - style wines , all available exclusively at the castello .
♦ child admission - $ 20 per minor ( ages 5 - 20 ) ( includes grape juice . children and young adults ages 0 to 20 may enter the castello only when accompanied by an adult over the age of 21 . )
the great hall of the castello is the room wherein the baron and baroness would hold court and conduct the royal business of the day . once business was over , they may hold elaborate banquets with sumptuous foods and pour great wines .
for an experience parallel to none , the royal apartment allows a unique , intimate and opulent encounter for small gatherings , and is where guests can enjoy small bites paired with select castello wines on the royal food and wine pairing tour .
this is an area of the castello rarely seen by the public , but can be exclusively available to you . the royal apartment can accommodate seated wine and food pairings , or if used in conjunction with the royal loggia , an intimate standing soirée .
the romans may have designed crossvaulted ceilings for italy , but dario sattui designed this structurally amazing barrel room for the castello . at 12 , 000 square feet , this romantic , beautifully designed room boasts 40 cross - vaults with ribbing—crafted from ancient hand made bricks .
with breathtaking views of the napa valley , calistoga and mt . st . helena , the terrace offers a beautiful open air gathering place ideally nestled between the castello towers . a perfect location for wine and canapé receptions accommodating , or an ideal area for alfresco wine and food pairings .
enjoy a guided tour through the castello followed by a tasting of six of our wines , including limited production , high end reserve wines . guided tours are run daily and last approximately 1 ¾ hours in length , with a one hour walking tour followed by a 45 minute wine tasting .
enjoy a guided tour of the castello followed by an intimate tasting in our il passito room , including a selection of local cheeses chosen specifically to pair with a selection of our premium and reserve wines . this tour is offered daily at 10 : 45am and is approximately 2 hours in length .
truly a breathtaking room , the castello has used this room in support of local charity events and has hosted many dignitaries including governor arnold schwarzenegger , jerry rice , nancy pelosi , chef rachel ray , clint black , sir james galway and frederica von stade . guests can view this room when on one of our guided tours .
enjoy a guided tour through the castello followed by a tasting of 5 of our premium wines . all tours feature a barrel tasting and include a complimentary tasting of our current releases . tours are approximately 1 ¾ hours in length . the walking portion of your tour is approximately 60 minutes followed by a 45 minute tasting of our handcrafted italian - style wines .
explore our winery with roaming access to two levels of the castello and a 5 wine premium or a 6 wine reserve tasting in our main tasting room with general admission , no reservations necessary for groups up to 14 guests . advisement of groups of 12 - 14 is appreciated . reservations are required for groups of 15 or more . for these larger groups , please see our large group page .
the 13th century courtyard is located in the heart of the castello and is surrounded by walls of hand - squared stone and ancient brick , tuscan - style breezeways and loggias . courtyards were the center life in any medieval palace , so it remains for your event ; central , picturesque stunning . vibrant during the day but majestic and regal at night , a unique wine and food pairing - alfresco - awaits you .
reserve a tour and learn more about us with a guided tour through the castello , including the lower levels which feature our torture chamber , armory , and grand barrel room , followed by a tasting of five of our premium wines in one of the winery ' s private tasting bars . contact our reservation desk for more information and to book at 707 - 967 - 6272 . groups over 19 guests visiting monday - friday , and groups over 15 guests visiting saturday - sunday please contact events and hospitality or visit our large group page . reservations highly recommended . learn more and pricing
reserve a tour and learn more about us with a guided tour through the castello , including the lower levels which feature our torture chamber , armory , and grand barrel room , followed by a tasting of six wines in one of the winery ' s private tasting bars , including our limited - production , elegant reserve wines . contact our reservation desk for more information and to book at 707 - 967 - 6272 . groups over 19 guests visiting monday - friday , and groups over 15 guests visiting saturday - sunday please contact events and hospitality or visit our large group page . reservations highly recommended . learn more and pricing
a clear sky . low 54f . winds wsw at 10 to 15 mph .
wednesday , august 20 , 2008 , napa , ca - an aerial view of syar industries in this 2008 photograph . j . l . sousa / register file photo
syar industries produces asphalt and concrete at its south napa plant . the company is seeking county approval to expand quarrying operations . submitted photo
friday - july 12 , 2013 - napa , ca - valente mejia facilitates the mixing of the cement to be poured from a syar cement truck as he and work crews pave the sidewalks along silverado trail near sousa lane on friday . lisa james / register
gazing into the bowels of the syar quarry southeast of the city of napa , it’s hard to escape the sense of history that reveals itself in the exposed volcanic rock .
primarily , it’s a geologic history — the dark , bluish - gray basaltic and the burnt - red tuffaceous rock provide a glimpse of how volcanic flows hardened into layers of rock over time .
but the site’s mishmash of heavy industrial equipment — drills , rock crushers , bulldozers and loaders — evokes memories of an earlier , grittier napa when mining , steel manufacturing and shipbuilding were major forces behind the local economy .
syar industries is preparing to double the output of its napa operations , from 1 million tons of aggregate to up to 2 million tons annually . john perry , syar vice president of engineering , said the increase should serve syar’s needs for the next 35 years .
the expansion requires a new permit from napa county . a draft environmental impact report that will analyze the potential impacts to aesthetics , air quality , groundwater , noise and traffic may be released this month .
in addition to the napa quarry , syar has operations in vallejo , on the russian river in sonoma county and on cache creek in yolo county , among other holding stations , perry said .
the main products that originate from the napa quarry are asphalt and concrete , but rock mined from the syar site can be found in landscaping throughout the napa valley .
the highest quality rocks are the blue basalt and rhyolite , with the basalt being used to make concrete and asphalt , and the rhyolite being made into construction aggregates , drain rock and other industrial products .
perry said that syar , which tries to reuse as much asphalt and concrete as possible , operates probably the largest recycling facility in napa county .
“it’s quite a mountain that you develop , ” perry said of the mounds of recycled concrete and asphalt . “it’s a green way to do things . ”
syar relies on customers within a 50 - mile radius of its quarry sites ; selling to businesses outside of that range can become cost - prohibitive .
“the further away you get , the easier it is for another quarry to come in , ” perry said .
syar has about 50 employees at its napa headquarters . the quarry operation brings the total to about 60 to 70 employees locally , perry said .
syar’s predecessor at the quarry site , basalt rock , was the largest in - county employer of napa residents during world war ii , when it operated a shipyard ; the mare island naval shipyard in vallejo was the largest out - of - county employer of napans , according to the city of napa .
perry said basalt would bring barges up the napa river , which borders the western end of its property , dropping off material and picking up loads of rock products .
the u . s . army corps of engineers uses some of it to cover up pipes extending into the ocean , so if a freighter passes by with its anchor dragging , it won’t hook onto the pipe , he said .
basalt first started mining in the original quarry site , which was 673 acres , in the early 1900s , and continued its operations until syar purchased it in 1986 .
before the era when trucks were used as transports , basalt developed a series of gondolas that would take rock product from the quarry and send it down to the napa river , where it would be loaded onto barges and shipped .
basalt later leased land adjacent to the quarry site from the state of california , which owns skyline wilderness park . syar purchased the leased land , as well as additional acreage , in the 1990s .
perry said syar is working with the skyline park citizens’ association to accurately establish the boundaries between the park and the quarry site ; the lines the state drew can vary up to 100 feet in width .
parts of the skyline trail run onto syar’s property , requiring a redesign that will put the trail solely on park property . syar’s planned expansion will extend to areas where the trail sits currently , and the citizens association is working with a trailmaster to develop the final redesign ,
to get to the rock syar prizes most requires precision blasting . the company drills holes 6 inches in diameter into the rock , some extending 50 feet . it relies on a contractor to mix the explosives , which are inserted into the holes no more than 10 to 15 feet in depth , perry said .
syar workers place the caps over the holes and then set off the explosions in a timed sequence — milliseconds apart . the caps contain the energy and force created by the explosions , which causes the hillsides to fall away , leaving the rocks exposed , he said .
the process usually takes several days to schedule . perry said syar does blasting in the late morning or early afternoon , when most people are awake and at work . the company is currently blasting once per week .
“blasting is really a science , ” perry said . “it’s not like it’s the good ol’ boys going out there with their dynamite . the most economical crushing you can do is through that initial blasting . ”
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while the company’s goal is to sell 2 million tons of product annually , that requires taking out a lot more hillside as part of the excavation and blasting process , he said .
the only areas where people can hear the blasts are at skyline park and in a vineyard immediately south of the quarry , perry said .
in the southeast part of the quarry , syar blasts to get to the basaltic rock , which is surrounded by tuffaceous rock and a white rock .
“this was created from lava flows , ” perry said . “different colors represent different volcanic flows and episodes . ”
the company uses loaders to transport the rock down to its main crushing operation , which has its start with a conveyor belt located on a hillside .
the rock travels down a conveyor belt , which allows it to be crushed and then diverted onto a series of conveyor belts and crushers . these crushers determine the size and grade of the ultimate product , perry said .
the syar site sits on highway 221 , but few drivers would notice its existence except for the company’s sign . that’s because the site has visual buffers — ridges that block views of the blasting work .
in seeking the new permit , syar is working to create more of these buffers , as well as to develop plans for reclaiming hillsides after it’s finished mining . that involves planting native plants .
perry first came to napa county as an employee for kaiser steel but has worked with syar since 1987 .
even after all those years , perry said he still finds new aspects to the job .
the original posting of this story was accompanied by a photo that was misidentified . the aerial photo , which has since been deleted , was of syar ' s lake herman quarry in vallejo .
that picture is most certainly napa ' s syar mine . we live right next to it in that nearby neighborhood . the expansion of syar should not happen . you have 1000 ' s of people living near there . . . the nvusd office of education , napa state , 3 schools . this is not out in no mans land and the health from rock dust and other things that are brought up from this mine are being blown northward from the southward wind from the bay . please napa do not be paid off to allow this to happen and threaten the safety and health of your citizens . we vote you in to protect us , please do the right thing here . . .
napa county should do all it can to limit mining by syar - napa . expansion of syar ' s napa operation will further scar the ridgeline and degrade the recreational experiences for current and future users of skyline park , the jewel of napa county ' s park system .
yeah , daveb , stop all businesses and layoff all the workers , then we can import rock from china and employ them . sure , you will disagree that this is just one company that we must control . but , mining jobs are just as important as government bureaucrat jobs that keep increasing while producing nothing .
good point morgzorg . according to corey , the register could not even get the picture correct of the exact site . is syar going to expand its pit all the way to solano county one day ? the quarry is an incredibly large hole - - - looks like those huge open pit copper mines in arizona . what is the long term impact on doing that ?
wow , is this what passes for journalism in napa ? how about examining the pros and cons of the expansion , both economic and environmental ? this article reads like a press release from syar industries pr firm .
the first picture shown is not in napa . it is the vallejo quarry on lake herman road .
i believe the first picture is syar ' s vallejo quarry , not napa ' s .
i think you all need to take a deep breath on this bottle rock thing , it generated a lot of money for the county and brought some culture other than fancy restaurants and wine tastings to the region . also , i think we need to give cindy pawlcyn her share of the blame for an extremely fishy vending contract . she brought in millions and has paid out nothing .
lol . . . are you serious ? . . . . . it remains a great location for the bottle half the rocks are already there . .
it would make a great outdoor pavilion… . . . with or without bottlerock .
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early bird two course dinner ( 5 - 6pm ) for two people , only $ 30 . 1st course : nepalese dal soup 2nd course : tandoori chicken and saag paneer , served with rice and naan bread .
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what started out to be the purchase of a dream home by daryl sattui , and a possible 8 , 500 square foot winery in calistoga is becoming a 92 , 000 square foot italian - style castle as well , with three watch towers , a moat , and even a grand loggia .
the wine cellars are four stories , with three of them underground . they will be available for tastings and social functions , and have storage capacity for more than 7 , 000 barrels . the winery , which will be capable of producing 100 , 000 cases when completed , is located on highway 29 , two miles south of calistoga .
the property had a beautiful old home , a wonderful creek , and was loaded with history . i was very lucky and very happy to own it . i wanted to restore the home of my dreams , but along the way , i somehow decided to add a castle ,
sattui said with a grin .
i really didn ' t want another winery . i already have a successful winery , but i suppose i ' ve been seduced by this goal like one can be seduced by a beautiful woman .
sattui , who owns the v . sattui winery in st . helena , said the project is now in its ninth year of construction with at least three more to go . sattui pointed out that the 172 - acre property on diamond mountain had been part of the estate owned by dr . edward turner bale .
bale was given extensive land by the mexican government back in 1846 . he built the still functioning grist mill in what is now part of bothe state park . in addition to the victorian home , which was built around 1870 and restored by sattui , there is another , older home built by a mr . nash in the 1850s .
there ' s so much history attached to the property ,
sattui claims .
and i want to save it .
there ' s a small barn built around1850 , reputed to be the first winery in calistoga . the first school in the upper valley was on the property , and evidence shows that a part of the wappo tribe used the land as a winter encampment
he had acquired some background for his dream from his travels to italy and the building of his st . helena winery in the 1980s . he built that winery in honor of his great grandfather , vittorio sattui , an italian immigrant from the piedmont - liguria region , who started a winery in san francisco in 1885 . like most other wineries , it closed in 1921 because of prohibition .
i wanted my new winery to look a hundred years old , like it was built in 1885
sattui commented .
i did it with the help of european artisans who rebuild and restore old buildings all the time .
just as the hearst castle at san simeon became a legacy to california , sattui ' s castle will likely be a legacy to calistoga and the napa valley . unlike hearst castle which was originally used exclusively for the enjoyment of william randolph hearst and his wealthy friends , sattui ' s castle will be for the pleasure of all residents and visitors of napa valley .
sattui is building his castle from his own plans and from the ground up ; from its foundation to its vaulted arches and imposing stone towers . the grand loggia , piazza , cisterna , the moat and drawbridges are being handcrafted with original materials . many are imported from italy and austria . the techniques being used have existed in europe for centuries
more than 11 , 000 cubic yards of concrete have already been poured . thousands of bricks have been shipped from austria , and hundreds of tons of stone have been hand shaped at napa quarries for both interior and exterior walls
the buildings and caves contain countless arches and naves , and vaulted ceilings that seem to float above the floor . there are double and triple arches over doorways to account for the stairs to a lower level . all are carefully formed by brick buttressed against brick , creating this feeling of flight which the medieval architects used without benefit of steel framing .
other ceilings utilize thick , hand - hewn beams to support wooded slats , thereby supporting the brick floor above . these labor intensive techniques are in evedence throughout the four - story complex .
there is considerable metalwork and woodwork in the castle , all designed to complement the structure . authentically reproduced doorways and window shutters abound . they are all handcrafted of wood and aged to appear centuries old . they are supported by ornate wrought - iron hinges and locks made in italy to medieval design .
iron gates and bars as well as torch holders and lights , all looking past their prime , have actually been made within the past few years and even weeks . clearly enjoying his project , sattui interjects with a smile ,
this is a 600 - year - old door lock that we just had made last month ,
or ,
we ' re building our 700 - year - old cisterna , and should have it ready in a few weeks .
he says he has already received more than 80 cargo containers shipped from italy and austria containing everything from newly - made
old
brick to newly formed and
rusted
metalwork .
i want it as authentic as i can get it .
there are patches on the stone walls , and occasionally an arched doorway or window is blocked off with old brick , as though a mistake was being crudely corrected .
that ' s the way different generations repaired these buildings ,
sattui said .
someone decided they didn ' t want a door where it was , and just blocked it off with brick or stucco . i want the place to have a sense of time , as though many generations have had their hand at work on it .
the structure is an eclectic mix of 13th century italian romanesque and gothic . the plans , however , are the brainchild of sattui , who seems to be influenced by ligurian , tuscan , and lombardian styles .
i visit italy at least twice a year , and i seem to bring back new ideas each time ,
he said .
i truly enjoy this ,
sattui added .
if i wasn ' t a wine maker , i ' d probably be an architect .
the castle is not a hollywood or a disneyland structure of wood and stucco , but a permanent facility of stone and brick . it will have a working winery capable of producing 250 , 000 gallons of wine .
forms for each arch and nave are built from wood first ,
sattui explains .
then the bricks are laid on the forms with mortar holding them in place and sealing the top for the next story . it ' s very labor intensive . and since each room and arch is different , new forms must be constantly built .
these methods are an art form still used in europe today . two world wars wreaked destruction on europe ' s great cities . pollution , weather and age have required periodic reconstructive work , therefore an artisan force of stone craftsmen continues to exist .
old warsaw was completely destroyed during the second world war , but was rebuilt to old plans . the seemingly centuries old buildings of munich , were rebuilt in the 1950s . so was the parliament building in london , which was destroyed in the blitz . dresden is belatedly going through such a rebirth , having sat in rubble for 45 years because of communist lethargy .
sattui brought this skill to napa and is utilizing it fully . he began the project with craftsmen who came over from europe .
as the work progressed , we were able to train local workers to do the various jobs .
now , he has two foremen , both trained in italy , and the rest of his crew of 15 are from the local work force .
i ' m trying to stay as close to the building methods of the period as the county will allow ,
he said . the only deviation has been the countless miles of rebar added to make the project seismically safe , and , of course , electrical wiring and temperature and venting systems .
i also had to install a $ 400 , 000 sprinkler system in case of fire to a structure made of stone ,
he added with a shrug .
snuggled in a hillside in dense woods and surrounded by a 27 - acre vineyard , rimmed with italian cypress , the castle will add additional evidence to the belief that napa is the rival of tuscany and provence , for its wines , its foods , its picturesque beauty , and its architecture . framed by its native oaks , douglas firs , and redwoods , the castle presents a california picture as well . with its spectacular views of mount st . helena , the palisades and the upper valley , it ' s easy to see why the wappo tribe used the site as an encampment .
the construction has not been without controversy . while some consider the structure ' s size out of place for our small valley , it is not untypical to find such imposing architecture in small european villages : the large abby complex in cluny , the monastery in assisi , or the three massive greek temples in the village of paestum are examples .
just like his castle , sattui has been a controversial figure since he arrived in the napa valley from san francisco in the 1970s . like the castle which he is building over time , his own business success has been built over time : it ' s a true horatio alger story . he created a successful wine business while amassing extensive land holdings of more than 1 , 000 acres , all in a period of 20 years . and now he is adding this remarkable structure to his list of successes .
he wanted to recreate the family winery his great grandfather started a century earlier . he had virtually no cash . what sattui did have , though , was a strong business sense , patience , and an ability to see opportunity when it knocked . add to this his strong work ethic , his italian heritage of frugality , and a willingness to make sacrifices to see his dreams materialize .
his frugality is demonstrated by his concern for waste . after showing this reporter each wine room , he would stop to switch off the lights . in some cases , he even unscrewed the light bulbs , if necessary . his patience and commitment are seen by his ongoing castle project . he clearly has the ability to be multi - focused while pursuing many ideas .
starting out on a figurative shoestring , sattui began to make his fortune by offering his guests food for sale as well as wine , and picnic tables for both . anyone with european roots knows that serving food with wine is not a unique concept , but it was an untried one in napa valley . the immediate popularity of his decision was shown by the crowds of visitors to his st . helena winery . word - of - mouth continues to make his winery a success .
visitors arrive not only to taste , but to have their luncheons on his lawn . and the v . sattui winery is the only one in the napa valley to maintain this feature because napa county officials have outlawed the practice by other area wineries . food as well as wine , along with patience , hard work , and dreams have created his fortune and his castle .
sattui ' s castle is in exceptional company , being situated between three of calistoga ' s most famous wine landmarks : schramsberg vineyards to the south , diamond creek vineyards to the north , and sterling vineyards to the east . an appropriate frame for his castle , because these wineries are pioneers in their own way . their stories are unique , too , and were built on interesting dreams and hard work . all have contributed to bringing fame back to one of the original wine regions of napa valley , diamond mountain .
though costly and time consuming , sattui seems to have no regrets and is pleased with the progress of the work . he hopes the people of calistoga will be , too . and in the , hopefully , near future , residents and visitors will be able to walk along the
ancient
grand loggia , gaze out past the
aging
arches to the classic napa valleysand sip wine .
napa power equipment - carrying a full line of stihl parts and accessories . our friendly and knowledgeable staff will be glad to assist you in any way we can !
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family members mario & romeo sattui at the family wine store , 23rd & bryant streets , san francisco , 1902 .
the v . sattui winery in st . helena in the heart of the napa valley is a classic example of how to grow a new business on old roots . the winery is celebrating its 125th anniversary this year , and though it is now one of the major players in wine country , it began in north beach in san francisco , flourished in the mission district and closed during prohibition .
the company was dead - or maybe just dormant - for 55 years until dario sattui , the great - grandson of founder vittorio sattui brought it back to life .
dario sattui threw a long lunch at san francisco ' s north beach restaurant the other afternoon to describe his company ' s humble beginnings .
it is a familiar immigrant story . vittorio sattui was born in the little hill town of carsi , near genoa . there was no future there ; people lived in grinding poverty . like many italians of that era , vittorio sattui immigrated to california , to san francisco , to start a new life .
vittorio was a baker and made wine on the side . he opened his own winery in a boarding house he and his wife leased on what is now columbus avenue in 1885 .
it was the old story : hard work brought prosperity . they bought grapes from st . helena , moved in 1899 to an old winery building at 23rd and bryant streets , owned property all over the city and when prohibition became law , they quit the wine business .
the old man and his wife continued to live in the former winery building ; there were old wine barrels and tanks still in place . there were old stories and the pungent smell of old wine .
v . sattui lived to be 94 and his great - grandson worshiped the old man . when dario sattui grew up , he told himself he ' d revive the winery .
it ' s a story that sattui loves to tell and he told it with gusto at the anniversary lunch . he is a tall , lean man of 68 and was the star of his own show , mixing self - deprecating humor with shrewd observations on the state of the wine business .
although v . sattui won more than its share of awards - 107 gold medals in 2008 - sattui turns up his nose at wine snobs .
we don ' t deify wine ,
he said .
it ' s not about the wine , it ' s about having a good time .
he also claimed that when he revived the v . sattui winery in 1976 , he knew nothing about the business . but he knew what he wanted , and he set out to learn .
i hired myself out as a tour guide at a winery for 4 bucks an hour ,
he said .
at the end of each tour , i asked the people if they ' d like to invest in a winery .
finally , down to his last $ 500 , he scraped up enough capital to build a winery .
everybody told me i was going to fail ,
he said .
i took long walks . i was depressed .
however , his new winery with the old name was on highway 29 , right in st . helena . sattui had managed to get a permit to sell food . he opened a delicatessen with good cheese and bread . other wineries had
keep off the grass
signs on their lawns . v . sattui had a picnic ground . he sold his wine direct - no middleman .
he sold truffles from berkeley , sold acme sourdough bread . after a rocky beginning , the place prospered . sattui leaned heavily on the old family tradition . he even changed his name from daryl to dario . it sounded more italian .
he cashed in on the explosion in the wine business . when the napa valley became a world - famous destination , he was there , on the main highway . now he gets 400 , 000 visitors a year . the company has done so well , sattui built a 1o7 - room , 121 , 000 - square - foot tuscan castle in calistoga .
v . sattui has come a long way from the boarding house on columbus avenue .
dario sattui is what they call in latin sui generis ,
said john de luca , former president of the wine institute .
one of a kind . he ' s broken the mold . but what a success story .
as an
amici del barone ,
we invite you to enjoy our hand - crafted wines at home all year long ! we have a wide variety of shipping and annual purchase clubs to choose from ; something for every palate . learn more
please contact our reservation desk for availability and booking at 707 - 967 - 6272 . reservations are required for groups of 19 or more on weekdays and 14 or more on weekends . for these larger groups , please see our large group page .
reservations are highly recommended to secure a specific date and time for your party , as tours can book quickly . * *
♦ $ 22 . 50 active wine club member price ( maximum 4 per membership ) additional discounts apply to higher club levels . club members must be present in order to receive discounts .
♦ $ 35 per minor ( ages 5 - 20 ) ( includes juice ) due to the length and educational nature of our tours , children under 5 are not allowed on guided tours . children and young adults ages 5 to 20 may participate in a guided tour only when accompanied by an adult over the age of 21 . reservations are highly suggested , only one family group with minors per tour .
* * late policy : we recommend arriving at least 10 minutes prior to your scheduled tour departure time to allow time to check in at the castaldo . if you find yourself running late to your guided tour , please call the castaldo at 707 - 967 - 6272 to let them know . if you arrive up to 20 minutes after your tour has started , we will be able to catch you up to your group ; if you are more than 20 minutes late , however , we will be unable to catch you up . when this happens , you will receive general admission tickets instead , and will be charged your original tour price .


kruse international was an auction firm founded by russell kruse in auburn , indiana , in 1952 .

the company began as a local auction company selling real estate , farms and personal property run by kruse and his sons dean , dennis and daniel .

the company held its first collector car auction in auburn on labor day in 1971 ; the labor day auction became an annual event and grew to become the largest collector car auction in the world .

after the success of this auction , the kruses were asked by tom barrett to have a sale in scottsdale , arizona , the next january .

this was the first annual sales that continue today .

the kruses were the first to sell a car for a documented $ 1 million in cash — a 1934 duesenberg model sj la grande long wheelbase dual-cowl phaeton .

the duesenberg was sold to tom monaghan , founder of domino 's pizza and then owner of the detroit tigers .

the kruse family is also noted for conducting the $ 41 million sale of the famous william f. harrah automotive collection .

the sale of this 1,000-car collection was spread over three auction sessions in 1985 , 1986 and 1987 .

the company was sold to itt in 1981 , but the family bought it back in 1986 .

it was then sold to ebay for $ 275 million in 1999 but was purchased back by dean kruse in 2002 .

on may 25 , 2010 , the indiana auctioneer commission revoked the company 's auctioneer 's license amid charges that the company failed to pay clients who had sold items through the company .

on july 1 , 2010 , kruse sold its auction park , home to the annual auburn auto auction , to rm auctions of canada .

kruse international

kruse international .
international directory of company histories . . retrieved july 09 , 2018 from urltoken urltoken
kruse international .
international directory of company histories . . encyclopedia . com . ( july 9 , 2018 ) . urltoken
the kruse international car auction was clicking on all cylinders labor day weekend , in the first year at its mammoth new site south of auburn .
on july 1 , 1992 , mitch was met at the doors of kruse international’s corporate building by two members of the criminal investigation division of the irs .
kruse international prospered along with the nation’s economy in the 1990s . by the end of the decade , it looked appealing to one of the . com boom success stories . internet auction giant ebay bought kruse international , hoping to expand its business model into automobiles . dean kruse became the company’s chief auctioneer for live settings , while ebay tried to establish the company online .
“it was better than we expected , and we expected it to be great , ” said mike butler , who managed the 300 - acre site for kruse international .
the success of kruse international , both with classic cars and its real estate and oil field equipment sales , caught the attention of international telephone and telegraph corporation , which bought the company in 1975 . the auction house , now known as i . t . t . kruse international , continued to be run by the kruse family , with dean having succeeded his father as the driving force . the auburn sale became a three - day event in 1976 and continued to grow through the rest of the decade . with i . t . t .
a 70 - count complaint filed by the indiana attorney general’s office initially counted kruse international debts of about $ 1 . 5 million , but by early last week mr . kruse had reduced that amount to $ 300 , 000 . mr . kruse is required to submit quarterly reports to the commission documenting progress on debt payments .
auction giant ebay , making clear that online is the place it wants to be , will divest itself of collector car business kruse international , which was acquired several years ago to help with the launch of ebay motors .
by 2002 , ebay had grown frustrated in its efforts to master a new business , and dean kruse bought his company back for a fraction of the price ebay paid . for a third time , kruse international operated as a locally owned business . but the third time would not be charmed .
. , the premier online auction site , bought kruse international for stock worth $ 165 million . at the time kruse was generating nearly $ 130 million in annual sales . ebay had been formed just four years earlier when french immigrant software programmer pierre omidyar created an online auction service to help his fianc
the san jose , california , company said it would issue shares worth a total of $ 275 million for billpoint and kruse international , with the deals due to close by july . ebay declined to specify the purchase prices separately .
kruse international , the indiana auction company that has been a major player in collectible car sales for nearly 40 years , had its license revoked and was fined $ 70 , 000 by the indiana auctioneer commission last week . the commission also suspended the company’s owner and auctioneer , dean kruse , for two years .
the auction company’s annual labor day auction is a big event in the auburn , ind . , area . according to the associated press , mr . kruse said he hoped the sale would not have to be canceled . alternative plans reportedly include finding another company to stage the auction or selling kruse international and its property .
now using the name kruse international , the company bought land south of auburn along interstate 69 and built kruse auction park , a sprawling complex of large buildings to house its events . through 1988 , the company had conducted its local auctions on the grounds of dekalb high school . moving the auctions indoors eliminated rain and mud as a threat to their success .
s rm auctions , inc . , whose events were covered by the espn channels , kruse international remained a major force in vintage cars while enjoying greater diversity , involved in real estate sales , drilling and well service equipment , classic aircraft , collectible tractors , and paintings .
like a pioneer aviator , kruse soared high and crashed to earth , again and again .
kruse international , a 75 - employee company based in auburn , indiana , has a premium name in the collectible car market , swette said . it has about 400 , 000 registered collectors , helps locate parts for out - of - stock cars , and provides other information and services to car collectors .
he has auctioned for royalty , heads of state , numerous celebrities , and top classic car collectors in the world . kruse auctions currently airs on fox sports network through a tv series called bidding wars . he was the youngest licensed realtor in the nation and the first to sell a vehicle for a documented $ 1 million cash . for 17 years , mitch was owner , ceo , and auctioneer of kruse international , the world’s largest collector car sales organization .
about kruse international with more than sixty years in the real estate and auction business , kruse international has become a nationally and internationally recognized company in the sale of real estate by private treaty and by the auction process . kruse international has conducted auctions in forty - four states and eleven foreign countries giving it unprecedented experience in this method of marketing . kruse pioneered the multi - property real estate auction selling three hundred sixty - five properties in one auction . since that time , the company has sold hotels , motels , industrial complexes , sports facilities , warehouses , commercial businesses , shopping centers , office buildings , apartments , race tracks , exclusive residential estates , diamond mines and even three entire towns . these successes provide the experience that obtains results . kruse international is also known as the largest collector car auction company that sells more vintage cars than all other firms combined . together , the kruse family has broken more than 250 world record prices in the collector car industry . dean kruse , the current owner and president , cried his 5 , 000th auction in august of 1987 becoming the youngest individual to attain that goal . he has been building on that total since that time . the company conducted the world ' s first annual consignment collector car auction in auburn , indiana in 1971 . since that time the kruse fall auction , held each labor day weekend , has become the world ' s largest event of its kind and annually draws 5 , 000 collectible vehicles for sale and 200 , 000 attendees . this event is the fourth largest spectator event in indiana , surpassed only by the indianapolis 500 , the brickyard 400 , and the indiana state fair . the company prides itself on being associated with other professional auctioneers throughout the united states and on providing the highest level of customer service . this coupled with dedicated employees and support personnel create an atmosphere of expertise and unequaled selling success .
based in auburn , indiana , kruse international is a family owned and operated auction house , best known as a pioneer in vintage car auctions . although other vintage car auction companies have become better known with the general public through live television coverage of their events , kruse boasts that it sells more vintage cars than all of its rivals combined . all told , the company hosts more than 30 events around the country , selling some 13 , 000 cars each year . the company claims to have broken more than 250 world record prices in the field . kruse also offers appraisal services and collector car insurance , and hosts seminars on car collecting . moreover , kruse auctions off recreational vehicles and other kinds of property , including real estate , drilling and well service equipment , classic aircraft , collectible tractors , and paintings . kruse has even sold factories , zoos , railroads , islands , and three complete towns . the company is owned and headed by dean kruse , a member of the second generation of the founding family .
in his honor , the family announced that it would play a recording of him singing his signature song before each kruse auction .
for nearly 50 years — half of this newspaper’s history — no single person has dominated its headlines more than dean kruse of auburn .
a worldwide recession that struck in 2008 turned out to be a blow that floored kruse so hard , he finally could not get back up . the barrage of lawsuits that hit kruse made his late 1970s crisis seem like a joyride . back then , the court cases chiefly involved customers . this time , court cases filed by large banks revealed that kruse had mortgaged his company and even his museum for millions of dollars .
s offline business , but the auctions at auburn , scottsdale , and elsewhere continued to thrive as the vintage car market finally won back the value lost a decade earlier and enjoyed a new surge in interest . however , under ebay , kruse was not able to take advantage of this renewed enthusiasm , and in fact the company closed auctions in a number of cities , leaving them to the competition . by the fall of 2002 , ebay elected to focus on its internet business and sell kruse , which had seen its revenues cut in half since the 1999 acquisition . ebay kept its promise to offer the company back to dean kruse , and in early 2003 he bought kruse international for an undisclosed amount of money , although it was reported that he borrowed $ 22 million to complete the transaction . he also told the press that he was overjoyed to be back in charge .
later in 1972 kruse held its second auburn auction , which was relocated to dekalb high school . among the 150 cars put on the block was
kruse international began as a real estate auction company in auburn in 1952 , founded by russell wayne kruse and his father - in - law , lester boger . kruse was born on a dairy farm outside of auburn in 1922 , the son of german immigrants . he started out helping his father and then moved on to larger farms before taking on considerable debt to lease 400 acres of land in the area and raise his own herd of 63 holsteins . early in the 1950s , however , he was in need of a new livelihood to support his wife and seven children ( having married at the age of 18 ) after consecutive years in which the wabash river flooded his fields so severely that he claimed he could catch fish with a pitchfork in what should have been a cornfield . in his spare time , kruse served as a vocal soloist at weddings and funerals , prompting his father - in - law to suggest kruse consider becoming an auctioneer . boger was familiar with the business , having served as a clerk at auctions . thus encouraged , kruse completed a two - week course at the reppert school of auctioneering in decatur , indiana , perfected the unique staccato rhythms of the auctioneer
for mitch kruse , auctioneering was an art and a life . his father and grandfather were famous auctioneers specializing in collector cars and real estate . however , when mitch was a freshman in high school , his father hit financial problems . by the time he was a senior , mitch was faced with the decision to follow his success in basketball into college or attend indiana university and restore the family’s auction business . he decided on taking the latter route . as a senior in college , mitch formed kruse international which innovated the auction industry , producing 50 annual events that reached millions of automotive enthusiasts across the globe , offering 15 , 000 + collectible vehicles , before producing the first auction broadcast live via satellite .
kruse used some of his income from selling the company to establish the dean v . kruse foundation and build the spacious world war ii victory museum on the west side of i - 69 , across from the auction park . he purchased an extensive collection of world war ii military vehicles from a museum in belgium and shipped them to auburn .
on sept . 5 , 1989 , the evening star published a report on the first collector car auction at new kruse auction park south of auburn . excerpts from that story :
s success decided to hold his own auction . he brought in leo gephart , a phoenix used car dealer who dealt in both used and rare cars , and they invited the kruse family to participate . in late 1971 dean kruse flew into town and the three men agreed to hold a consignment auction at the safari hotel in scottsdale in hopes of attracting car collectors from around the world . barrett then brought in a scottsdale friend to help organize the event , russell jackson . barrett and jackson had worked together previously on a pair of successful car show fund - raising events . the scottsdale auction was a two - day event held in january 1972 . it was attended by 3 , 000 people and generated almost $ 600 , 000 in sales volume . its success established the auction as an annual event in scottsdale , with kruse remaining involved until the mid - 1970s , when barrett and jackson decided to go it alone , establishing the barrett - jackson classic car auction , and giving birth to a major rival to kruse international : the barrett - jackson auction company l . l . c .
ebay was reportedly forced to lay off more than half of butterfields ' staff during its ownership . kruse employees reportedly were notified of ebay ' s plans to sell the company on wednesday .
a tradition at a kruse auction , about 80 cars on consignment were put up for sale . the auction attracted an estimated 17 , 000 people , although the exact number was difficult to determine .
, a man who had assembled one of the best private car collections in the world . owning 80 cars , barrett decided the time had come to winnow down his collection , and inspired by kruse
an era came to an end in may 2007 when russell kruse passed away at the age of 85 following a stroke . until the very end the farm boy who turned auctioneer and conducted sales throughout
high - end fine arts auction house to london - based bonhams auctioneers . ebay used butterfields the same way it used kruse : as a way to get into an area where it had little expertise .
kruse indeed played the role of a pioneer in his field . in the early 1970s , he and his family virtually invented the business of auctioning collectible cars . before long , they found it to be a boom - and - bust proposition . after the first down cycle in the late 1970s , dean kruse carried on alone until his son , mitchell , joined him in the business a decade later .
but kruse did work out a happy ending for the community , finding an established auction company , rm auctions , to buy his auction park and maintain auburn as a center of the collector car world .
the company will remain in indiana , but the new bidding engine will be run out of ebay ' s san jose headquarters . ebay plans to continue the real - world car auctions that kruse now runs .
… auctioneers sold as many cars as the clock allowed in six days this year , running the saturday session until 2 o’clock in the morning . chief auctioneer dean kruse’s voice was like a blown engine by monday .
kruse sold his company to investors to keep it afloat , and by the late 1980s , he had worked his way into a position to buy it back , this time with his son , mitchell , as president .
once paypal is fully integrated into ebay , the auction giant also plans to shut down billpoint , its former online payment service . both billpoint and kruse were acquired in 1999 in a deal valued at about $ 275 million .
s backing , kruse also became the major auctioneer for the sale of classic car collections around the country . in 1980 the auburn auction saw 754 cars put up for bid , followed by 860 cars the following year , when
the key blow came when indiana took away kruse’s license as an auctioneer , one of the very first granted by the state . that left him helpless to work his way out of his debts the way he had in the past .
that ' s how we regard the good people who make up dan kruse classics . it takes a lot of work and dedication to put on a top - notch event and we’ve got the best in the business working with us .
the first kruse car auction took place on labor day 1971 . kruse worked for his father , russell , in the family auction business . they collaborated with leaders of the local auburn cord duesenberg festival , which celebrates classic cars built in the city in the 1920s and 1930s . searching for a way to pay for a museum to house the cars and salute the city’s history , they came up with a plan to sell collector cars in an auction and make money from commissions on the sales .
for the first time , but not the last , kruse found himself besieged by lawsuits from people who sold cars at his auctions and didn’t get paid . he stubbornly rejected advice that he should file bankruptcy and set about slowly repaying his customers , seeking to rebuild trust .
with a combined 200 years experience in the auction event process , our team shines when the curtain goes up . we ' re dedicated to providing the smoothest transfer of sale and do our level best to make sure your experience with dan kruse classics a thoroughly enjoyable one .
in 1999 god provided mitch a way to leave kruse international . he sold his company to ebay and attended seminary . he now teaches others on the value of a life restored in christ . in his book , restoration road , mitch talks about four primary desires . these are god - given desires that reside in each one of us . every choice , thought , prayer , and feeling is connected with every investment of time , talent , and treasure by the heartbeat to satisfy these desires . the first primary desire is significance , which comes from being created in god’s image . the second desire is contentment from being blessed by god to be fruitful , multiply , and subdue the earth . the third desire is control , being empowered by god to rule over the earth . the fourth desire is security from being provided with every seed - bearing plant and fruit - bearing tree .
when asked to help raise money for the auburn cord duesenberg car club , which sponsored the annual festival but was losing money , kruse suggested that , since some of the cars were already scheduled to be sold , a consignment auction of vintage cars during the festival could be used as a fund - raiser instead of auctioning off the other goods the chamber of commerce had in mind . his idea was accepted and in 1971 the first auburn labor day vintage car auction was held in a field near interstate i - 69 . after russell kruse began the proceedings by singing
the kruses’ first hard landing came at the end of the ’70s , when a recession marked by the double jeopardy of high unemployment and runaway inflation gripped america . as dean kruse would learn more than once , collector cars are a luxury that people don’t buy when their budgets turn tight .
the action was taken in response to complaints from sellers who claimed the company had not paid them for automobiles that it sold . according to the associated press ( via bloomberg businessweek ) , mr . kruse said that his financial problems were largely the result of buyers not paying for their purchases .
billpoint enables person - to - person credit card payments over the internet , helping buyers and sellers settle up , while kruse runs approximately 40 car auctions each year , selling about 14 , 000 vehicles . it also employs specialists who appraise , authenticate , and rate a wide range of automobiles and networks with collectors and dealers around the world .
as his legacy , kruse left auburn as a tourist destination with three museums in which he played a key role . he served as one of the founders of the national auto & truck museum , conducted auctions that paid for saving the auburn cord duesenberg automobile museum and started the museum that today is known as the national military history center .
even without the giant kruse auction , numerous cars will go on the block in the auburn area , mr . wolff said . the world wide auction is slated for that weekend , and the classical event auction , which specializes in high - end cars , will take place in an indoor sports arena across the street from auburn’s dekalb high school .
dean kruse moved quickly to rebuild the business . to make up for the sales shut down by ebay , annual auctions were launched in new york city ; biloxi , mississippi ; tampa , florida ; billings , montana ; and monterey , california . kruse also invested in improvements to the auburn facilities in order to make greater use of them . given that it was much less expensive to host an event in auburn than elsewhere in the country , the investment led to increased profits . in a matter of two years three auctions were added to the auburn site , making a total of five annual sales . they included a noreserve auction for collector cars , recreational vehicles , and motor coaches , the national corvette show & auction , and an auction for street rods and customer cars as part of an event called the annual fun run nationals . the auburn grounds were also rented out for vehicle shows , such as the sports car club of america and the american truck historical society .
but before kruse began his career as a car auctioneer , he gained prominence in politics . he became dekalb county’s republican chairman in 1964 , claiming to be the nation’s youngest chairman at age 23 . in 1966 , he won election as the youngest state senator in indiana , and he said that at age 25 , he also was the youngest in the nation . his senate career lasted only four years , though he maintained a lifelong interest in politics , serving as a republican county chairman and rubbing shoulders with national leaders as head of the national association of realtors political action committee .
in 1989 the auburn auction was moved to a new facility , kruse auction park , where three duesenbergs received bids of more than $ 1 million each , led by the $ 1 . 8 million paid for a 1933 duesenberg j 386 . the event was also noteworthy because the financial news network aired three hours of the auction . the following year , the 20th auburn auction featured 3 , 000 vintage automobiles and a separate collectibles auction . the event expanded further in 1991 to include three other auctions : the marhanka antique truck & tractor collection , the wayne sawyer collection , and the fitterling collection & farm .
s business development people , simon rothman , was responsible for taking ebay into automobiles , the result of his searching the site for die - cast models of ferrari sports cars and finding that a full - size ferrari was up for sale . he soon discovered that other cars were also for sale elsewhere on ebay . a car enthusiast who had restored fiats as a teenager , rothman was put in charge of the new unit . ebay motors acquired kruse as a way to gain credibility with collectors , encouraging them to auction their cars on the site and making it known that top vintage cars could be bought online .
the kruse family bought back the company in 1981 after six years of i . t . t . ownership . the collector car business continued to flourish and then enjoyed a further surge following the october 1987 stock crash . a large number of investors felt uncomfortable with the stock market and began to put their money in art work , collectibles , and classic cars . as a result , vintage cars fetched ever increasing amounts of money . at the 1988 auburn auction , a 1929 cord l29 murphy town car once owned by actor john barrymore sold for $ 1 million . a duesenberg j walker lagrande torpedo phaeton also received a bid of $ 950 , 000 .
by the time of the 1991 auburn auction , a recession struck the country and had an adverse impact on the classic car industry . values plummeted and several years would pass before investors regained their losses . despite poor conditions , kruse was able to carry on . in 1992 the shop - at - home network broadcast some of the labor day event , allowing home viewers to bid on the 1 , 500 vintage cars put up for sale . the top selling car was a 1948 buick saoutchik drophead coupe , receiving $ 275 , 000 , a far cry from the amounts paid three years earlier . while collectors may not have been willing to pay as much for vintage cars , there were plenty of enthusiasts willing to pay the price of admission to admire them . in 1986 nearly 300 , 000 people attended the auburn labor day festivities .
s voice served him well . according to observers his voice could be listened to for hours without annoyance . he was also a natural showman , unafraid of working in front of large crowds , and he possessed the necessary ability to read the crowd , to know who were serious buyers and who might have been shills , and to cajole bidders into going a little higher in their bids than they had planned . he was an immediate success as an independent auctioneer , becoming the top auctioneer in the area after just a year . he handled the usual work to be found in rural indiana : estate liquidations , farm sales , and other real estate sales . he was also called on to auction off less than ordinary items , such as the complete contents of a funeral home and a 750 - foot - deep hole in the ground , which he sold to a garbage company . in time kruse was assisted by his children . dean began working for him part time in 1956 and three years later went full time , becoming an accomplished auctioneer in his own right .
the auction house uses its high - flying stock to scoop up a credit - card payment firm and an auto - appraisals company .
ebay made two acquisitions today using its high - priced stock as currency , scooping up a credit card payment firm and a company in the auto collectibles market to resume pushing its way into pricier merchandise .
as it continued an acquisitions binge begun with last month ' s much - remarked purchase of venerable auction house butterfield & butterfield , ebay also signaled an interest in expanding in the auto market .
this is a launching pad for us to get into the car market , and we ' re entering into the logical place ,
said ebay senior vice president of marketing brian swette in an interview .
the collectible car market is roughly half a billion dollars a year , he added , compared to the broader car market , counted in the billions .
we think the car market is an attractive market for us ,
swette added .
moving into auto auctions would increase ebay ' s average selling price , thus boosting its revenues . that also was the goal of ebay ' s $ 260 million acquisition of butterfield & butterfield , a highbrow , 134 - year - old auction house .
billpoint ' s technology could reduce the time required for ebay members to complete a transaction by three to seven days , said mike wilson , ebay ' s senior vice president of product development and site operations .
billpoint ' s system , still in testing , involves billpoint ' s software becoming the
master merchant
and processing transactions for members . as such , it introduces both a new revenue source and additional risk into ebay ' s business model .
billpoint and others have developed technology to detect fraud in this area , and we view it as a small risk that we would be managing carefully ,
wilson said .
billpoint will operate as a wholly - owned ebay subsidiary and will be encouraged to use its technology to facilitate transactions for other internet commerce firms , he said .
they are the offline version of ebay in collectible cars ,
swette said .
as for ebay ' s plans for the used car market , swett said :
we ' ll do the same thing as we did for beanie babies - - create a national market that is easy , fast , informative , and has community built around it .
ebay said the two transactions may slightly dilute earnings for the remainder of 1999 , and both will be accounted for as
pooling of interest
transactions . ebay also may recognize some one - time expenses related to the acquisitions in its second quarter financials .
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paypal shareholders were to vote on the $ 1 . 5 billion deal today ; approval seems certain , however , so there ' s little drama .
, which claims to sell more vintage cars than all other firms combined , conducts more than 30 real - world auctions a year . ebay motors , however , has seen the bulk of it growth ( some estimates put gross merchandise sales there at about $ 3 billion this year ) in the standard used car market .
but ebay quickly found that online success doesn ' t always mean that real - world business efforts will be winners .
referring to the sale of butterfields , ebay spokesman kevin pursglove said at the time that :
perhaps we had not entirely gauged how much of a change in behavior would be required to make customers comfortable with purchasing high - end art and collectibles online .
since 2002 , liveauctioneers has made exceptional items available for safe purchase in secure online auctions .
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the first auction on the west edge of auburn succeeded beyond the organizers’ wildest dreams . a mere three years later , festival organizers had saved the auburn automobile co . headquarters in the city and opened it as a museum . by then , the kruses had taken their business concept nationwide , starting a new industry that continues to thrive some 40 years later .
to house their growing business , the kruses erected a three - story office building in downtown auburn that would be sold to county government in the mid - 1980s after the kruses’ first financial crisis . in the beginning , it sported lavish chandeliers and furnishings that testified to the new company’s prosperity .
the kruses pulled it off with none of the backfiring that plagued recent auctions at the overcrowded dekalb high school site . traffic flowed smoothly onto the grounds without the long waits that were so frustrating in years past .
… the event was bigger and better in almost every way . butler estimated that attendance was up by 30 - 40 percent over 1988 . as many as 10 , 000 spectator cars were on the grounds at peak times saturday , and the auction expanded to offer a record 2 , 000 cars for sale .
… “people didn’t think we could make it work , ” butler said of the auction’s new site . “we had to show them . ”
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5540 county road 11a auburn , indiana 46706 u . s . a . telephone : ( 260 ) 925 - 5600 toll free : ( 800 ) 968 - 4444 fax : ( 260 ) 925 - 5467 web site : urltoken
private company founded : 1952 employees : 100 ( est . ) sales : $ 125 million ( 2006 est . ) naic : 453998 miscellaneous retail stores , not elsewhere classified
auburn - cord - duesenberg festival by hosting a fund - raising auction . although it is virtually forgotten today , early in the 1900s auburn , indiana , rivaled
as the center of the u . s . auto industry . it was the home of giant auburn automobile co . , which remained a healthy company , especially in luxury cars
caught up to the manufacturer . luxury car sales collapsed and in 1937 the auburn automobile co . closed its doors . it was a bitter blow both to the economy of auburn and the psyche of its citizens . the glory years were not forgotten , however , honored each
s web site . the auburn event received national attention , due in large part to a duesenberg which received a $ 61 , 000 bid that was rejected by the owner .
s leading auction firms and the largest collector car auction company , selling more vintage cars than all other firms combined .
s 1933 duesenberg victoria , which fetched a record - breaking $ 90 , 000 . the following year the event auctioned 250 cars , one of which , a 1932 duesenberg , became the first $ 100 , 000 car . by the 1975 auburn auction , total bids reached the $ 7 million mark and 100 , 000 people attended . of the 430 cars bid upon , 58 percent were actually sold , because a large number had a
, as the auburn auction was made available on both television and online . the company
e indulge in a peculiar hobby : trading pez candy dispensers . ebay became a broker for sellers , receiving a listing fee and a percentage of the sales price for hosting an online auction . it quickly became one of the great internet success stories , achieving growth by paying attention to what users of the site were trading the most , then creating categories to serve that sector , thereby reaping even greater rewards . one of ebay
lived a colorful life . divorced , he decided to remarry despite being well into his 70s . in 1998 he picked out a russian bride from a catalog , lyubov koutsova , and flew to
barrett - jackson auction company llc ; mecum auction inc . ; rm auctions , inc .
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“the a . c . d . festival is separate and distinct from the auction , ” mr . wolff said . “we’re expecting close to 50 duesenbergs and close to 100 , 000 attendees . ”
according to mr . wolff , the four - day festival includes a cruise - in of hot rods , muscle cars and other collectibles , as well as a drive - through and display of the duesenberg classics . they will also be hitting the road for a drive to nearby kendalville airport , where the duesenbergs will hold a “gentleman’s competition” on a quarter - mile dragstrip .
a team of new york times contributors blogs about news , trends and all things automotive . check back for insight , photos , reviews of cars and more . and remember to join the conversation — you can comment on the cars , offer your own reviews , and post questions in our reader comment area .
the regular features of this blog , including monday motorsports , the wheelies news briefs and reports on auto industry developments including vehicle recalls and technology updates , can now be found on the automobiles web page . read more…
you may not be able to tell the difference while you’re driving , but acura’s new 4 - wheel steering system moves the front and rear wheels in concert to improve high - speed steering response . read more…
general motors hasn’t offered a diesel passenger car since the diesel - powered chevette chugged unceremoniously into its lineup in 1986 . but the company is back with its efficient chevrolet cruze turbo diesel . read more…
toyota announced a recall on thursday of 803 , 000 camry , avalon and venza models for a problem related to air bags caused by spider webs . read more…
a journey across sunny italy , sampling “the most sublime noise ever to enter the ear of man” — the throaty engine of a ferrari , in this case the ff gt . read more…
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the raid as mitch followed in his father’s footsteps , he discovered that success is fragile and often comes at a high price . instead of planning for family time with his child , he traveled further and more frequently . “i stayed late at the office , because there was literally no end to what i could do each day to earn enough money to stay one step ahead of disaster , ” he says . he found himself in the same situation his dad did years earlier , putting his business before family and faith .
though he was raised in a christian family , mitch vacillated between legalism and relative lawlessness . in july of 1990 , “it was like someone turned the lights off , ” says mitch . “we experienced two years of economic crisis . ”
“at first i thought it was a joke by one of my employees , ” said mitch . once mitch realized it was not a joke , he hoped they were there to investigate the records of one of the companies’ 450 , 000 customers . in the middle of the crisis , mitch called his uncle derald . within the hour of uncle derald’s arrival , mitch discovered two crucial facts : first , the irs had orchestrated a sting operation against his company ; second , they needed to pull together expert legal counsel .
turning point after years of facing constant pressure of life in the fast lane , he reached a turning point and surrendered control of his life to the lord . on the day of the raid , uncle derald asked mitch , “have you ever thought about changing the scorecard of your life from money to wisdom ? ” this question has stayed with mitch ever since then .
just after the raid mitch started meeting weekly with his uncle to ask him questions about the scripture he had read that week . soon these meetings began to fuel an almost insatiable desire for wisdom from the bible to apply to his life . in his search for wisdom , mitch created four courses in order to apply his mind . first , read a chapter in proverbs each day that corresponds with the date of the month . “proverbs has 31 chapters , so i read through the book once each month . ”
secondly , read a chapter from the new testament each day . “this allowed me to read the entire new testament in less than a calendar year . ”
third , read three chapters each day in the old testament , “so that i could read the entire bible in a year , ” says mitch .
finally , “i memorized one verse each week that i applied to my collector car auction life , recalling it several times throughout the week . ”
these four disciplines have proven to be very valuable to mitch that he continues to pursue them each day . “i encourage you to consider selecting one of the courses for your own life . warning : this will radically change your life , ” says mitch .
each desire is present in genesis 1 : 27 - 30 . one who attempts to satisfy his desire leads with a particular chamber of the heart . attempting to satisfy the desire for significance , the emotions chamber leads . someone who attempts to satisfy his desire for contentment leads with the spirit . one who attempts satisfying the desire for control leads with the will . someone who desires to satisfy security leads with intellect . even though one leads with a heart chamber when pursuing a particular desire , all four chambers of the heart flow toward each pursuit . “when we fully surrender our hearts , desires , and three resources of life to him . he satisfies our desires . we are not the ones restoring ; rather , it is christ in us and working through us . ”
today , mitch writes and speaks to a wide array of audiences about wisdom and leadership . mitch , his wife susan , and their daughter live in auburn , indiana , on their family farm homesteaded from the indiana state government by his great - great - great grandfather in 1854 .
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