About Chateau Bellamonte

It is said that the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro is “where the heavens meet the earth.” It was in this place that Stacey Montoya found the inspiration to launch Chateau Bellamonte. Italian for “beautiful mountain,” Chateau Bellamonte represents Stacey’s parallel journeys to summit both literal and figurative mountains.

Having lost her husband, Carlos, on September 11, 2001, Stacey was left with overwhelming grief and a shattered heart. Deprived of the opportunity to say goodbye, she believed there would be no better place to do so than “where the heavens meet the earth.” So, in January 2007, Stacey reached Uhuru Peak, the 19,341 ft (5,895 m) summit of Mount Kilimanjaro, carrying a 5-pound, heart shaped rock. On that cold winter day, she buried her “heavy heart” atop the mountain, finding solace in knowing it would forever remain close to Heaven and to her beloved Carlos.  

The loss challenged her beliefs about life and how to live it, but the journey to heal put her on a path which honors her husband and his memory, reminding her to live each day to its fullest. 

Today Stacey channels her passion for life into winemaking at Chateau Bellamonte. To honor Carlos’s memory, every bottle bears the inscription, “Where the Heavens Meet the Earth.”  We hope each glass brings as much joy to your life as it does hers!