Links Member Rating Map Winery Email Page to a Friend Save to CWA Favorites Add to Itinerary

Sterling Vineyards

Sterling Vineyards Description

In 1973, Sterling Vineyards opened their aerial tramway to shuttle visitors up the hill to one of the first destination wineries of the modern era. Two hundred thousand people per year now take the three-minute ride to the 300-foot-high hillside winery.

The winery is designed to appear like the white villages of the Greek island Mykonos, and incorporates bells from St. Dunstan's in London, a church destroyed in World War II. Sterling has four different lines of wines, including the Reserve, Single-Vineyard, Napa Valley Wines and Sterling Vintner’s Collection. They also produce small quantities of special wines – often obscure varietals -- for their club members.

The Sterling experience has many options for touring and tasting their Bordeaux- and Burgundy-style wines. A self-guided tour winds around the production facility, overlooking the winemaking process. Every day at 11am is the Reserve Tour and Tasting, where visitors enjoy an escorted tour of the winery followed by a private tasting in the elegant Reserve Room. ($45 including tram ride; call for reservations.)