Charge for Tasting: Yes, includes tram ride. Extra charge for Reserve Room tasting (credited toward wine purchase). More information on their website
Winery Tours: Yes, self-guided
Wine Price: Moderate
Sterling Vineyards is a large winery producing many types of wines. Special features include their hilltop location and tram ride.
Review
Wine Quality: Wines at all levels, from widely released varietals to library releases
Tourist Experience: Good. The tram ride is fun, and the winery is set up for visitors. Tasting rooms are comfortable and they accommodate the kids with a sparkling juice drink.
Sterling's building reminds me of Greece, with its white walls and blue awnings. Its hilltop location provides panoramic views of the Napa Valley. The self-guided winery tour takes you through the winemaking process at your own pace.
Sterling has three tasting rooms:
- Main Tasting Room: Complimentary tasting of their current-release wines.
- Cellar Club: Offers wines limited production wines, many not available outside the winery. Open to Cellar Club members only, who get a complimentary tasting for two members and two guests. Ask the staff about joining.
- Reserve Room: Sterling's finest reserve wines and library releases served in fine crystal stemware. Buy a single glass, or a tasting flight (small samples of several similar wines). Tasting fee deducted from sales price if you buy the same wine you tasted.
Getting to Sterling
Sterling Vineyards
1111 Dunaweal Lane
Calistoga CA 94515
(707) 942-3344
www.sterlingvineyards.com
As is common in the travel industry, the writer was provided with a complimentary tour for the purpose of reviewing Sterling Vineyards. While it has not influenced this review, About.com believes in full disclosure of all potential conflicts of interest. For more information, see our ethics policy.
