The Gondola: Yes, It's Like the Disney Skyliner
Sterling Vineyards closed to the public in September 2020 after sustaining damage during the Napa Valley Glass Fire. It reopened in 2023 with enhanced hospitality spaces and a brand new state-of-the-art gondola. Each cabin is optimized for 360-degree views of Napa Valley and is fully ADA accessible.
If you're familiar with the Disney World Skyliner, it's the same ride system. The gondola is part of the overall Sterling experience, and they currently don't offer rides without a wine tasting included. There is a $25 ticket that doesn't include wine, but that guest must be accompanied by someone doing a wine experience. The ride over the vineyards is a genuinely lovely introduction to what's ahead.
The Architecture and the Bells
As you enter the winery, the Mediterranean-inspired architecture is immediately striking. The white stucco walls and classic lines were designed to echo the charm of the Greek island of Mykonos, one of the founders' favorite travel destinations. The design also keeps the winery naturally cool, which is a practical nod to the importance of temperature in wine production.
The bell towers are home to eight historic bells originally from London's Church of Saint Dunstan in the East. The church was destroyed by the Great Fire of 1666, rebuilt, and later damaged during World War II. The bells survived all of it and now toll every 15 minutes here at Sterling Vineyards. That's a detail that stops you for a moment.
The Sterling Stroll: Five Tastings, About an Hour
We were limited on time due to a reservation at another winery, so we chose the Sterling Stroll: a leisurely self-guided tour and tasting of five wines that takes about an hour. Some of Sterling's more comprehensive experiences require reservations, so plan ahead if you want something beyond the Stroll.
Tasting 1: 2023 Pinot Grigio
Light, dry, crisp, and refreshing. We were told it pairs well with pasta with white sauce, sushi, or salad. A good opener for a warm Napa afternoon.
Tasting 2: 2022 Unoaked Chardonnay
What makes this one interesting is the process. Sterling ages this chardonnay in stainless steel rather than oak barrels, which gives it a noticeably crisper, brighter character than most Napa chardonnays. Notes of passionfruit, citrus, and clean apple. The staff recommended pairing it with salmon. A lighter wine with more personality than you might expect.
Tasting 3: Pinot Noir
Silky and smooth. Recommended pairings included roasted meats like turkey and duck, as well as autumnal vegetables. The staff member pouring this one discovered we were from North Carolina and pulled out his iPad to show us the Mother Vine on Roanoke Island in Manteo, estimated to be at least 400 years old and believed to be the first grapevine in North America. That's the kind of moment that makes a winery visit worth more than the wine.
Tasting 4: 2017 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon
This was the standout. Blackberry, blueberry, and chocolate notes. I'm a Cabernet person and this was a genuinely good wine. We grabbed this one on the terrace with the valley views spread out in front of us, which is exactly the right context for a Reserve Cab.
Tasting 5: Malvasia Bianca
Way too sweet for me. I should have stopped with the Cabernet. But if you like sweet wines, this one is worth trying. The gift shop is where you end up for this final pour, surrounded by branded apparel, accessories, and plenty of bottles to take home.
The Glass Fire Story and What's Being Done
From the terrace you can still see some of the damage from the Glass Fire. Sterling has been transparent about what happened and what they're doing about it. The winery is now 100% powered by sustainable energy, including the gondola. They're constructing solar installation to cover all electricity needs, minimizing landscaping with drought-resistant plants, capturing rainwater in significantly larger tanks for grounds use and fire control, and have installed EV charging stations across 26 parking spots.
The fire mitigation strategy that stopped me was the sheep: 600 of them brought in to graze the hillside grasses. They reduce the fuel load by stomping down and eating the vegetation in and around the vineyard rows. There's also one of the cars from the original aerial tram destroyed in the fire on display. The new gondolas are a significant upgrade.
Reservations: Some experiences require advance booking. The Sterling Stroll can typically be done as a walk-in, but check the website before you go, especially on weekends.
Non-wine guests: A $25 ticket is available for guests who don't want to do a tasting, but they must be accompanied by someone who is doing a wine experience. The gondola ride alone is not available as a standalone ticket.
Location: Calistoga, at the northern end of Napa Valley. Plan your driving accordingly if you're combining it with other wineries in a single day.
Accessibility: The gondola is fully ADA accessible.
The most elevated winery experience I'd had to that point. I came in not knowing what to expect and left very pleasantly surprised.
The combination of the gondola, the architecture, the history of the bells, the Glass Fire story told honestly, the terrace views, and the quality of the wines made this feel like more than a tasting. I would come back to try one of the more comprehensive experiences. If Sterling is on your Napa list, it belongs there.
San Francisco to Napa Valley: A Weekend Road Trip
The full road trip recap that includes this Sterling visit, the Archer Hotel, Cakebread Cellars, breakfast in downtown Napa, and Fisherman's Wharf on the way back through San Francisco.