As seen on the cover of Haven, a luxury home magazine!
This masterpiece was built over the course of seven years and is officially open to the public in 2022!
For travelers who want an exclusive taste of Tuscany without the hassle of jetting across an ocean, "The Castle Vineyard" is the place to stay. The dramatic, spellbinding stone castle proudly overlooks over twenty acres of idyllic rolling hills and a gorgeous, working vineyard. Once inside, the interior does nothing to dispel the magic.
NEWLY INSTALLED HOT TUB - FEB 2022!!!
The castle is a perfect blend of design elements inspired by Tuscan vineyards, castles of Europe, historic Wisconsin barns, mid-century American industry and turn of the century churches. Only the very best material had been chosen with delicate care to create a richly vibrant castle filled with special custom-made pieces.
Home Entry
Before you even walk into the castle, you are greeted with the arched beauty of the spectacular mahogany and glass front door. This gorgeous arched door was sourced from a professional, Italian door maker who was moving back to Italy. Once you open the door, you are immediately greeted with a gorgeously lit foyer that features an original Milwaukee gas streetlamp.
Piano Room
In true European style, there is a beautiful piano room which features a miniature baby grand piano hanging above as a chandelier. Little known fact… This exquisite instrument was a retirement gift from General MacArthur to his limo driver. And in case you are wondering, no you do not have to take a ladder to play the chandelier piano! There is a lovely grand piano that our musically inclined guests are welcomed to tinkle away on.
Dining Room
Brightly lit with its numerous wooden windows that continue to carry out the castle’s rustic appeal, the dining room is yet another room that oozes country elegance. Handcrafted from a 1914 John Deere two bottom plow, the dining room table comfortably seats eight. Hanging above the table hangs a uniquely crafted dining room light created from a hay trolley.
Kitchen
The open kitchen plan is a luxury not to be understated. You can find church lights in the kitchen and loft area originating from an 1800's church in Plymouth, Wisconsin. But while the decor may be historic, the kitchen equipment is quite the contrary! The kitchen features state-of-the-art Viking kitchen appliances and a 6' x 11' stainless steel kitchen island. Though this beautiful castle may be rustic in personality, its amenities sure aren’t.
Best of all, with the beautiful windows filling up the kitchen walls, you will be able to get lost in the serenity of the rolling hills and vineyards while you cook!
Fun Fact: Legend has it, the sailfish that can be seen in the kitchen, was purchased at an Ernest Hemmingway auction in southern Florida. In the process of shipping the sailfish from Florida to Kohler, all the paperwork of authenticity disappeared. The sailfish hung in the Kohler showroom until the store closed in the early 2000's. The builder of this gorgeous estate bought it on the store's closing day so that this legend will continue to live on.
Office
While it is a given that you need to relax while on vacation, especially when you are staying in an estate as dreamy as this, this stunning estate offers a wonderful office that is sure to inspire productivity. The lighting in this space is second to none. It not only features an original gas streetlamp from Fort Wayne, Indiana, but the water-pulley light above the desk was specifically sourced from a classic wood sawing mill. If there wasn’t already enough history seeping throughout the room, the combination lock safe was purchased at the estate sale of Clifton Edward Tufte, the founder of Road America.
Spiral Staircase
One of our favorite parts of The Castle Vineyard would be the gorgeous, wooden, spiraling open-plan staircase. The unique branching pattern in the wood of the winding staircase and railings was accomplished by fractal burning… a technique that creates patterns in wood resembling branching or fractal patterns. It adds a whole new dimension to classically elegant, Arcadian beauty.
The Wine Hall
Wine hall? Yes please!
Asides from the presence of amazing wine, the highlights of the hall would be its gorgeous, award-winning 1902 potato plow chandelier. For a true blue, wine country feels to the place, all the wood used for the tables, benches, and barrel shelves were sourced from an original Johnsonville Brat smokehouse's floor joists and the 32 whiskey barrels lining the walls of the Wine Hall are from Maker’s Mark Whiskey in Loretto, Kentucky. Whilst the entire estate is incredibly dignified and well-polished, the castle remains true to its rustic roots with its original barn metal roof ceiling and most interestingly, the door to the wine cellar was the original gun room door off a WWII Battleship!
Theater Room
This home theater room is a massive highlight for our travelers who are genuine movie lovers. This top-of-the-line movie theater in the tasting room has a twelve seat (three row) setup, an incredibly generous 135” screen and a Dolby 7.2.2 sound system that would be able to make anyone feel like they were truly a part of the movie! Not to mention, with over 600 Blu-ray DVDs you can choose from and a popcorn machine, the film experience in the Castle Vineyard’s theater room is second to none. Think Marcus Cinema, only WAY better!
Bedrooms
Main Bedroom: On the first floor you will be able to find the main bedroom. It offers a generous, queen-sized bed and a full-sized bed (built in the 1800's). Leading off the main bedroom is the piano room featuring another pull-out bed, making it the perfect bedroom for late night music sessions!
Private Master Loft: Overlooking the main floor is the private master loft with a half bathroom. Wake up in a king-sized bed that overlooks the beautiful grounds. No window treatments are added to keep the natural beauty, but sleep masks are provided to ensure a restful night's sleep!
Basement Bedroom: Generously sized Queen bedroom set with wooden sliding barn door.
Basement Bunk: Two bunks, four beds, each with private curtain treatments! Unique ceiling lights made from the old drive gears of a Caterpillar bulldozer. Wooden walls, paneling, and beds… a truly Arcadian experience not to be missed!
Living Room
With the presence of a gorgeous, stone fireplace, you will be in for warm evenings ahead huddling up on those comfy Baker couches. If you look closely at the stone fireplace, you might be able to see the prehistoric figures secretly embedded in the swirling patterns of the fireplace!
Bathrooms
Offering 2.5 bathrooms - there are two showers, one soaking tub, a walk-in sauna, three toilets and one urinal across both. Depending on the bathroom experience you would like to have, one bathroom offers a luxurious rustic experience with its wide-open space and lightly painted room, while the other bathroom offers a Tuscan castle experience with its European-style décor and red painted walls.
Vineyard
In the spring of 2021, 400 grapevines were planted in an organic mixture of topsoil, sand, and cow/chicken manure. The stone pillar vineyard features the following grape varieties: Edelweiss, Marquette, Kay Gray, Frontenac, Beta, Valiant, Somerset, Reliance, St. Theresa, Vanessa, and Concord. Come back in 2023 for "The Castle Vineyard" wine tastings.
Other
Private chef: Is your group looking for a prepared meal to create the ultimate experience? Message directly for options! Wine tastings, cheese pairings, or mixologist? Message for details!
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There is a keyless entry into the property. The key code will be given during the reservation. Contact me for details.
We live close to the property and can assist with any and all details during your stay. We can be reached by phone call any time during or in preparation for your stay!
Quiet farming community of Cleveland to enjoy country life while being within 10 minutes of Whistling Straights and 15 minutes to Destination Kohler and Downtown Sheboygan.
We highly recommend some of the restaurants below:
Rupp's Supper Club, Cleveland - true Wisconsin style supper club. Must!
Trattoria Stefano - Upscale Italian faire
Prohibition bistro - authentic wood-fired neapolitian pizza
8th street ale house - great craft beers with both German and American fare.
Field to Fork - locally sourced dishes great for breakfast/lunch.
The blind horse - Napa-style winery and stylish New American eatery
If you are looking for something else (Mexican, supper clubs, etc), just ask!
Car, bike, or foot! It's easy to explore Manitowoc County!
Need a personal driver? Message for directly for options.
Plenty of parking for all guest vehicles.
Immediate removal without refund if:
- House capacity is exceeded at any time
- Noise violations exceeding standard community settings
- No events or parties of any kind
- Smoking indoors (of any substance) - $400 fine