First wine tasting experience, it was absolutely amazing, everyone was very willing to share and it made the experience wonderful read more

Sterling Vineyards - Wineries Near Me - Calistoga, California

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Awesome experience. Very beautiful location and friendly staff. We tried 5 wines, 2 white and 3 red. Would visit again.

The tour is awesome and we had 5 drinks which are so good. The view is amazing. Would love to come back again.

What a cool experience! I'm by no means a vineyard pro, but Sterling had such an interesting format that I'm sure this is one of the more unique ways to enjoy vineyards. Most of the facility is higher up, so there's a gondola to take visitors up over the property. It's a short and pretty ride with well maintained and clean machinery (there's even a phone mount you can use to take group selfies!). I liked how there's a walk through their facility (like seeing the machinery where the grapes are fermented, etc) to get to each wine tasting. And there were lots of signs with educational information to learn about the process too. The highlight was a gorgeous terrace overlooking the land where cheeses were served along with the wine. The staff team were super nice and weren't pushy at all with trying to sell the wine. Beautiful stop! Even as someone who doesn't drink alcohol, it was still a fun visit :) read more

You get to go on a gondola and get wine throughout your journey here which is pretty amazing. There are some views and the staff are pretty nice. I was here a little while ago, and forgot to write the review so trying to remember some more, but overall the wine was good. One of the nicer wineries to visit. read more

Sterling Vineyards is one of Napa Valley's most iconic vineyards. Its biggest draw is the gondola which takes you from the parking lot to the tasting room. When you get to the gondola, you purchase your preferred tasting and then get on the free gondola. During the three minute ride you'll see tons of sheep; we were told there were 1,200 of them. Our tasting ($55) consisted of five wines. You do a self-guided tour for the tastings and most of them are outdoors. During your walking tour you see the fermentation tanks with nice views of the vineyards and the valley. You'll also learn about the wine-making process and a history of the vineyards. We didn't have a reservation but we were able to walk up for our group of six on a Saturday afternoon with no issues. The tour can be as quick or as slow as you want since you walk at your own pace. It's minutes away from Castello di Amorosa so it's a good group of vineyards to go for a wine tasting tour. read more

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I've heard good things about this vineyard especially their gondola ride to the top. This winery is nestled up on a hill in Calistoga with stunning viewings and an amazing gondola ride. My friend and I had the Sterling Stroll for $55 a person that include 5 wines: their 2025 Sauvignon Blanc, 2019 Cabernet Franc, 2022 Reserve Red Blend, 2019, Cabernet Sauvignon, and their 2024 Malvasia Bianca. There are 4 stations throughout the property to taste each wine and we were able to see the containers and vessels used for making the wine, and video slides and signs giving the taster a more detailed look at the wine process. I enjoyed strolling through their property and sipping wine and learning about Sterling Vineyards. Our fifth stop was the gift shop which we were served the Malvasia Bianca, a crisp refreshing dessert wine. It does get crowded with the Sterling Stroll experience, so check out their seated tastings for a more intimate setting. The gondola ride is breathtaking and an amazing aerial view of Calistoga. Be sure to check out the Ansel Adams photograph gallery in the gift shop and in the hallway going towards the founders tasting room. read more

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This review is LONG overdue. Sterling Vineyards is definitely giving tourist trap energy. The gondola ride? Super cute. The views? Gorgeous. The property? Basically built for Instagram pics. I will say, the welcome bubbles were actually a really nice touch and probably the best way to kick off the tour. But the wine after that... it was mehhhh. Also, our experience started off kinda weird because the girl at the front desk seemed like she absolutely did not want to be there that day. She had a little attitude with our group and came off kinda condescending for no reason. Thankfully the tour is self guided so once you're past that, you can just wander around at your own pace and enjoy the scenery. Overall, pretty place for photos and vibes, but there are way better wineries out there if you actually care about the wine. read more

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My sister and I had such a great time at Sterling Vineyards. The last time I visited was before the fire, and the remodel is absolutely beautiful. The gondola ride up is breathtaking and the views of Napa are unreal. It's crazy how beautiful it is up there. The gondola itself is really spacious and comfortable. The ticket includes a self-guided tour with about four stops where you get to taste a variety of wines, and it all ends on the rooftop with incredible views. All pours were a good size and the wine servers were very knowledgeable and friendly. This is such a great place to visit, especially if you have out-of-town family or friends. The wine was good, but honestly, the ride and the views were the highlight for me. read more

Sterling Vineyards - Wineries Near Me - Calistoga, California

Sterling Vineyards was easily my favorite stop of my birthday trip. The gondola ride up the hill was the perfect start! It was a self guided tour so we really got to take our time exploring the property. Service was excellent throughout our visit. The staff was welcoming, knowledgeable, and made the experience feel relaxed rather than rushed. They took time to explain the wines and pairings, which I really appreciated. read more

Sterling Vineyards - Wineries Near Me - Calistoga, California

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Wonderful and welcoming staff from Check in through Gondola, tastings, and back out. At first I was concerned that we weren't going to enjoy the tasting experience because of the crowds but once we got to our seated tasting experience we had loads of fun. The tastings were yummy, the cheese selections were perfect, and the weather and view from atop could not have been better. read more

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Did a wine tasting here with a charcuterie board. Honestly this place was amazing. The gondola ride up to the main area was a cool way to get a good view of the vineyard. The staff was super knowledgeable and very friendly. Ended up walking around after to see different parts that you would see on the walking tour as well. The wine we tried was very good and ended up going home with a couple bottles. Will be back for sure. read more

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Excellent and fun experience Tour the winery with wine tasting at your own leisure So guide needed When you reach to a tasting station, you were given your pour with the explanation of the wine you are tasting . They have good wines that you cannot find at the lock store Great place and easy tour read more

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I came with my wife for her birthday and I have to say. It was an informative and enjoyable wine tasting session. You start off taking a gondola ride to the top of the property where the tasting rooms are and you get a nice view of Napa and the property. From there they tell you which way to go based on the color of your card. Someone escorted us to our table with a glass of wine to start the journey. After receiving the rundown, I didn't know that as a New York native, where you grew up could potentially impact what kind of wine that you like. I usually lean towards rieslings which apparently are much more common in colder areas. We did the Hilltop experience. Our Sommelier not only broke that down for us but also let us try a couple of different wines that aligned with our taste buds. The charcuterie board was great as well, especially the cheeses. There was one local one that we tried that I can't remember the name but I'll be sure to ask for f extra the next time I go. All in all, I would return and try the founders experience. read more

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My parents have been members here for a few years, and they finally took me when I had a day off from work :) The gondola and the views really make the experience, especially when you visit on a day with nice weather (but I guess that applies to most places). There's a dedicated member parking lot and a decent-sized lot for non-members. We checked in at the ticket booth before boarding the short gondola ride, which can reasonably fit 6 people (max 400lbs I think). We booked the self-guided tour tasting, but there are more stationary options too lol. We walked throughout their winery (I wouldn't recommend heels) and stopped at various spots for tastings to learn about their winemaking process and history. The staff was delightful, and we especially enjoyed the sweeter wine at the end in the gift shop (I am clearly a sommelier). The rooftop is perfect for photos and although there was plenty of people, it didn't feel too crowded as groups naturally moved onto the next tasting stop. My favorite was the long hallway of their wine labels from nearly every year since their founding in 1964. So cool to read up on their history behind each design and how that wove into their timeline to their success today. I look forward to coming back to try a different tasting experience! read more

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The staff is very friendly and attentive. Definitely would recommend. The gondola ride was a plus. read more

Very good go to white wine and dessert wine for tourists and for members to bring in friend and family for tour. Red wine it self, not so much since we are so much red wine.. Experience with gondola is always great tasting for very affordable price for $55 (starting) Kids friendly. As of May 2026 they changed their long time routine you cannot keep the glass. You have to return it. Overall nice view and affordable for good white wine. read more

Sterling Vineyards - Wineries Near Me - Calistoga, California

Quality/Quantity - More guests visiting us, so Napa here we come (again). Rarely do I do back to back reviews, but I think this positive visit deserves more attention. Today we did the Tour & Terrace Experience for $85 per person. $25 for minors and designated drivers. We only spent 1 minute on the Terrace due to the weather. No need to even take pictures... The cheese plate was good also and you can ask for cracker refills. They gave us two cheese plates for our group of 7. Overall, the experience was very positive. Atmosphere - Beautiful job with the remodel and the new tram. You almost have everything new. Plenty of parking on this rainy day, again. But we did make reservations this time. Mandatory gondola rides now. In the past (am I out dating myself?), you were allowed to drive up to the tasting room. The ride is approximately 5 minutes. Open 7 days a week from 10:30am to 4:30pm. The last tasting is at 5:30pm. And I believe the last gondola rides back down at 6:30pm. Service - Everyone was friendly and welcoming except for the person working the checking counter in the parking lot. She was short with us the last visit also, but actually warmed up today as we talked with her. She was short with our guests who ended up paying for today's tasting. But because our guest was so nice, he just walked it off. The rest of the team, from the 3-4 pouring stations and the tasting room were all exceptionally jolly, positive, and welcoming! Never felt rushed. On our way out, they gave us new and clean wine glasses. And two charcuterie boards! Thank you. Price - Our guest paid/treated; thank you. But it was $85 per person for the tasting and $25 for non drinkers and minors. Owner Comment - Congrats on your success since 1964. 1969 - First vintage. 1971 - Construction begins on the tasting room, production, etc. 1978 - Expands vineyard, acquisitions. 1985 - Expands vineyard, acquisitions. 2016 - Major remodel. 2020 - Napa Valley glass fire... 2023 - Reopening; more modern and even more beautiful. read more

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Such a great visit! I hadn't been here in a few years and this was the best visit I had! My group loved the gondola ride to the tasting station at the top. Great views all around. And we used this as our "lunch stop" and pre ordered the cheese and meat trays to go with the various tastings. The woman that took us through the wines was amazing and went out of her way to accommodate the person in our group who doesn't care for red wine. And the check out process to ship wines home was simple and quick! At first I was skeptical about needing all these reservations as it took work to set it all up. But in the end, I really think it's the way to go as you have the full attention of the staff during your time, which in the past was more of a frenzied mess. As we rode the gondola back down the hill, we all remarked what a special experience Sterling is!! read more

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This place is beautiful and the best part is the gondola rides where you can see great views of the winery. The building itself looks Grecian, so having not been to Greece (yet) I got to pretend I was there, lol. It's also very spacious and there's an area where you can rest on one of the outdoor chairs and enjoy the views. I loved that they had a non-drinking ticket, meaning as long as there's one ticket for someone who will be drinking, the other person can join you (for less) and enjoy the gondola ride too. This was perfect for my husband who doesn't drink and not a lot of wineries have this, I believe. read more

Highlights by far was our gondola ride to hill top wine tasting experience. The view was spectacular!!! Jesus was very patient with our group of 6 that were already happy from our precious winery visit. He made sure to explain each wine, the history of the winery and offer tastings to additional wine. read more

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Araceli was very informative and helpful. John at Tasting was amazing and was very informative for the beginning part of our stroll. read more

Sterling Vineyards - Wineries Near Me - Calistoga, California

First time visiting due to recommendations in tik tok. The pros - Most amazing gondola ride of the stunning vineyards. Beautiful for capturing the scenery Wine was decent especially the cabs Cons Interior old nothing to write about Some of the wines were just ok The price is a bit high for the tasting Recommend doing it once for the gondola ride read more

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We LOVED our experience here from start to finish! It was difficult to find a vineyard to accommodated/had availability for a large group but booking a reservations was super easy here. Our group of 13 opted for the self guided Sterling Stroll and there were so many time slots available. Just note that you have to pay in advance when booking but as soon as you get there, you just check in and you're good to go. Our friends were also running a bit late so the worker in front helped up move our reservation back 15 minutes to wait for everyone :) First of all, the drive into the venue was so beautiful and picturesque. We had to ride the gondola up and it was amazing! We even saw a family of deer on our way back down. For the Sterling Stroll, we were given 5 glasses of wine (two whites, 3 red). I really enjoyed the white wines, especially the last one. At each of the tasting areas, the workers explained the history of each wine and it was so interesting to learn about them and how they differed from the previous glass. There are SO many great picture spots and we even got the keep the crystal wine glass at the end. I will say, I wish there were more seating areas but other than that, it was a great experience overall. Thank you Sterling Vineyards! read more

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Our party of 4 visited on a Sunday afternoon. We did not have a reservation. I was able to call about 90 minutes before and they were able to get us in. The Gondola ride is super fun and cute. Service was very good. Everyone was very welcoming and inclusive. This time of year the tasting is mostly red wine. Not my favorite but the experience was good and we ended our tasting with a refreshing sparkling wine. Great experience especially if you want to learn more about wines in the region. read more

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Sterling Winery is beautiful. The grounds are stunning, the wine was enjoyable, and we ultimately had a great afternoon. Unfortunately, the customer service at the start of our visit left a bad enough impression that I can't overlook and I honestly can't shake it. So much so that this is the first review I've written in maybe 10 years? We arrived around 4:15 p.m. on a Thursday. My brother--who is genuinely one of the friendliest people you'll ever meet--was asking a few questions before buying our tickets. The older blonde woman at the ticket counter seemed annoyed from the moment we walked up. She made several snippy, underhanded comments, including telling us we had "two more minutes" before she would've turned us away, even though we had arrived well before the posted cutoff. It felt less like customer service and more like we were inconveniencing her by existing. We brushed it off and headed up the gondola, only to have another bizarre interaction at the first tasting station. The employee asked if we'd received a map. We said no--the ticket agent hadn't given us one. Instead of simply handing us a map, he insisted we had received one anyway. We repeated that we hadn't (truly, we're all very competent people). He doubled down and suggested we'd probably lost it. It was such a strange thing to argue about that we were genuinely speechless. It felt passive aggressive and a little confrontational. The rest of the staff were lovely, and we didn't let those interactions ruin an otherwise wonderful day. But they stuck with us because they were so unnecessary. I don't know whether the issue was poor training, two employees having bad days, or something else. As a Mexican family, it's hard not to wonder whether our experience was influenced by bias. I hope that's not the case--but it's difficult to ignore when two of our first interactions felt dismissive and oddly confrontational despite us being nothing but friendly. For a winery that charges premium prices and has such a beautiful reputation, the hospitality should match the setting. Sterling can--and should--do better. read more

Are you looking for an experience, Delicious wine, great views, and gained knowledge, this is the winery for you! From the gandola to the wall of wine vintages as you walk to the 4th stop. All wines were delicious but of course I had my favorites. I loved walking the grounds and being immersed. Each tender was very friendly and welcoming. The gift shop was pretty edgy. Definitely recommend. Pro tip: Stay hydrated read more

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Come for the gondola, go light on the wine. I was glad to include this in my Napa trip itinerary but I did not want to finish single glass of the walk and taste tour we did. The patio has gorgeous views and the cheese plate was good but I wouldn't come back for the wine. read more

Great tasting. We picked up 5 bottles of Malvasia Bianca. Staff were friendly and attentive.

We came here to celebrate and the lady that checked us in at the very bottom was about the only person who knew what to do... do not recommend spending your money here honestly. The gondola ride was very nice, but that and the lady at the bottom were about it. 1. Once we got to the top, no one was there to escort us off the gondola 2. We were told where to go, but once we got a little up the stairs, a guy at the bar had us come back down and show our tickets 3. The door at the top was opened for us but we weren't told to wait or go anywhere... and then they left 4. We decided to gravitate up the stairs towards someone at a countertop and they eventually poured us a glass of wine without saying anything so we had to ask... are we standing here for the tasting or is this to hold us over? 5. Got to our table and received the same update on what to expect from 2 different people... idk why 6. We got here at 2p and it's 3:20p with only 3 wines poured ... so prepare for hours I guess 7. Eye rolls when we asked for more crackers ... Just... pick somewhere else I think. They seem too busy with 3 groups of people read more

It turns out that visiting Napa with children is somewhat unusual. There are many articles online about "wineries that allow children" which was very helpful and it was one of those that led me to Sterling Vineyards. The option that allows children is the Sterling Stroll, a self-guided tour that includes 5 pours for $55/adult and $25/child. The $25 child's admission includes a children's pack, with a plain black drawstring backpack (they really should brand this!), a pair of kids sunglasses, a bag of chips, and a little Martinelli's apple cider. All include a ride up (and back down) to the hilltop winery in the aerial gondola, which is one of the highlights of the trip. Each party gets it's own gondola, which is a pleasant ten minute ride. On the way up, you get to take in lovely views of the property and the valley. Once you get to the top, you are given an empty wine glass and begin your self-guided tour around the facility with designated stops for pours. You receive specific pours at each spot and it started with reds and moved to whites, with a delicious dessert wine for the final pour. The tour has you meandering throughout the building at your own pace. There are some placards and TV screens, but nowhere as educational, as say, a placard at a national park though I doubt anyone cares. The stroll ends at an outdoor seating area with great views. I don't think that the Sterling Stroll customers are actually allowed to sit at the patio and instead can only walk around the perimeter. That is my only suggestion - that there are more seating areas for the Stroll. You're basically on your feet the whole time and that causes you to drink quite quickly because there is nowhere to stop, sip, or even put your glass down. At the end, you are permitted to take home your stemmed Riedel, Sterling branded wine glasses as a keepsake which we opted not to do because we were flying home. When you're ready, you take the aerial gondola back down. We liked trying the wines at Sterling and it was truly appreciated that the winery had an option that accommodated children. read more

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Wonderful tasting experience, very kid friendly. Would recommend coming on a weekday, when it's less crowded. read more

Sterling Vineyards - Wineries Near Me - Calistoga, California

Beautiful facility and property. Very delicious wines and knowledgeable staff. Will be back. read more

Sterling Vineyards - Wineries Near Me - Calistoga, California

We had a wonderful experience at Sterling. It was a perfectly warm and sunny winter afternoon as we took the gondola the self guided tour. The staff were kind and friendly and the views were beautiful from the hilltop. read more

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Such a gorgeous vineyard with unbeatable views of the Napa valley. The gondola ride will take you to the top of the hill where tours begin. The self-guided walking tour is very affordable and great because you can pace yourself with the five tastings and explore the different stops around the winery. In total, my group of four finished in one hour, including multiple photo ops and lookout points. Each staff member at the tastings were so friendly and passionate about the Sterling wines they were pouring. We got to learn about their different processes and all the flavor notes each wine had to offer. Making reservations online is very easy as there are plenty of time slots. I would definitely recommend taking guests here during your next Napa trip! read more

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Such an amazing experience today at Sterling Vineyards. Beautiful vineyard, affordable, great tasting options, top notch customer service. I read they were the only winery in the world accessible by aerial gondola. Highly recommend checking them out! read more

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This was a great experience! I really enjoyed it! Self walking tour, beautiful scenery and great wine. Gondola was really a nice touch to the winery on the hill. Everyone was really nice and staff were super knowledgeable and friendly. Definitely one of the tops places I've visited. Favorite wine was the 2022 Malvasia Bianca! Very tropical and sweet taste that I couldn't resist! Took a bottle back home. Would definitely recommend! read more

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Honestly, the best part of Sterling Vineyards is the gondola ride up-it's unique and gives you some great views. Once you're at the top, the terrace is beautiful and definitely the main attraction. People mostly come for the photo ops and the scenery. As for the wine... eh. It was fine, but nothing stood out. Definitely not the best we had in Napa, and for the price, 1 expected a little more. Pro tip: you can ask for refills during the tasting walk-through-most people don't realize that. There's also a bunch of info and history playing on projectors throughout the self-guided tour, but honestly, most people just breeze by it without reading or watching much. It kind of feels like it's there to stretch the experience, but it didn't add a ton. read more

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An awesome experience no complaints I opted for their $55 tasting because it offered 5 different tastings where as the other packages offered less tasting but came with small bites and a tour guide .. the bite options included cheese and i don't eat that so I opted for 5 tastings w. A self guided tour Staff were really nice and informative I don't feel I lacked on the experience not getting a tour guide The scenery was nice there is a lot of sun exposure read more

Sterling Vineyards - Sterling Stroll-$55 self guided - Wineries Near Me - Calistoga, California

If you are planning a trip to Napa Valley, Sterling Vineyards is a MUST in my mind. The wine is delicious but more importantly the gondola and walking tasting experience complete with stunning views of the valley is a memorable experience. Get the Priority Wine Pass for 2-for-1 tastings. Reserve ahead of time. Staff was friendly and knowledgable. The views and the photo op at the end were truly unforgettable. read more