Sterling Vineyards is easily one of the most spectacular wineries in the world.   Located just south of the historic spa town of Calistoga, Sterling Vineyards has been recognized as one of Napa Valley's top producers of fine wines since its first release in 1969.

Arriving at the winery's hilltop location via aerial tram has to be one of the most peaceful and beautiful approaches to a winery anywhere.   On the ride up, the vineyard and mountain scenery reminds one of France and Italy, but arriving at the first of many stunning viewpoints, the white winery immediately evokes the isles of Greece.

 Looking down at the valley 300 feet below offers a unique perspective on the northern end of Napa Valley.   The Napa Valley is four miles across near the town of Napa, but in Calistoga the valley narrows to one mile.  The winery is perfectly situated to offer panoramas in every direction.  Nestled between the steep, tree-covered Mayacamas Mountains rising 2,000 feet to the west, the rocky Palisades standing at 1,800 feet to the east, and Mt. St. Helena towering 4,343 feet just north, marking the terminus of this famous wine growing region, visitors have truly arrived at the top of the wine-world!

 Sterling Vineyards is known for both its white and red wines.  In 1969, Sterling produced the first vintage-dated varietal Merlot in the United States - a red varietal long used in blending with Cabernet Sauvignon in the Bordeaux region of France.  Sterling produces wines that are well known around the country, but it also offers some innovative wines only available at the winery.

 Sterling Vineyards owns over 1,200 acres in many different locations of the Napa Valley to take advantage of the many microclimates and soil types, growing each grape variety in its optimum environment.

 The tasting room offers a tremendous selection of wines to try.  Four wines are offered complimentarily with the visitor fee, which includes the aerial tram ride.  Other wines are offered for a by-the-taste fee that can be applied towards the purchase price.  Here's a sampling of wines generally offered for tasting: Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Malvasia Bianca, Pinot Gris, Viognier, Zinfandel, Sangiovese, Syrah, Muscat Canelli.

 A tour of the winery also offers visitors a great deal of wine education.  Unlike other wineries, there is no canned spiel from a tour guide; you are your own guide, at your own pace. 

Sterling Vineyards closed its visitor center for eighteen months and invested over $14 million in a complete remodel of its visitor center, tour corridors and viewpoints.   Elevated corridors above the work areas give visitors unrestricted views of the winemaking process.  Photographs and educational panels are scattered throughout the winery, including a fascinating wine barrel stave display explaining the influence of various toasting levels and its effect on wine.

A unique innovation at Sterling is a "Winemaker's Video Tour."  Through the use of three separate DVD videos displayed on large flat screen TV's, visitors join Sterling's winemaker, Rob Hunter, for a visit through the various seasons of the winemaking year.   At the first stop you see the sampling and testing of grapes to determine the timing of harvest, followed by the hand picking of the grapes, the "crush," and a look inside a wine press and fermenting wine vat.  At the second stop you learn about barrel fermentation, and see the construction of a wine barrel, and learn the difference in impact of an American vs. French oak barrel.   At your final stop, you'll join the winemaker as he blends the renowned Sterling Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, then see the Sterling cave, closing with the bottling process.

 Another feature that sets Sterling Vineyards apart is its tasting rooms.  Guests are comfortably seated surrounded by a rare wine art collection as very gracious and knowledgeable staff present the wines to your table. The servers offer wine and food pairing suggestions and are eager to answer any questions guests might have after their "Winemaking - 101 tour." 

 Veteran visitors to Napa Valley have learned to begin their explorations in Calistoga.  It's unhurried pace, renowned restaurants, and over a dozen great wineries can easily fill a day.  But as the folks at Sterling are often heard to say, "Start at the top!"

 Sterling Vineyards is open daily from 10:30am to 4:30pm.  You can find them at 1111 Dunaweal Lane, Calistoga, by phone 800/726-6136, or at www.sterlingvineyards.com