Castle with 110 hectars land, vineyards and wine production in northern Italy for sale

For sale is a castle in northern Italy in the region of Friuli-Venezia Giulia. The floor area of the castle is 1850 m², the castle stands on the large plot of 110 hectares (272 acres) of which there are about 10 hectares of vineyards. The vineyards are based on karst soil with a large proportion of iron, under the vineyards there is an underground lake that provides cooling of the vineyards during the night in summer. The alternation of hot days and cool nights, supported by regularly changing air currents from the mountains and the sea, gives the wine unique conditions for creating its original flavour. The vineyard's production is 50 thousand bottles per year of high-quality wine selling at 50 euros per bottle. Over the centuries these indigenous grape varieties such as Vitovska, Teran and Malvasia have provided the grapes for the production of noble wines that were among the best in Austria-Hungary, intended exclusively for the Viennese court. 

The castle has a very long history, with King Richard the Lionheart of England briefly imprisoned here in 1192. The castle exists in its present form since the 16th century, but there were fortifications on the site as early as the Roman Empire. Ten years ago the castle underwent a thorough reconstruction during which all the vaults were restored, the upper floors have new beamed ceilings and there is a new roof. There are new double-glazed wooden windows throughout. The castle has 4 above ground floors and a cellar. The owner expects that the chateau will accommodate 18 suites, and additional 14 rooms will be built in adjacent historic buildings. There is a historic 35-meter-deep well next to the chateau. 

In addition to the chateau, the property has large wine cellars with vaulted ceilings and stone columns of about 1,000 square meters with vessels for wine fermentation. There are also several old houses on the land on which villas can be built. The owner has commissioned a project to build an 18 hole golf course. The nearest marina for yachts on the Mediterranean coast is Villaggio del Pescatore 17 km from the castle.