Sterling Vineyards, Calistoga

A day at Sterling Vineyards is a day you will remember your entire life! My son still talks about the wonderful day we spent there! This vineyard has it all (except cheese!) and is especially fun for kids, because of the aerial tram and the self-guided tour. You reach Sterling Vineyards via stunning Highway 29 which is bathed in sun. Dunaweel Rd leads you to Sterling's gorgeous driveway, lined perfectly with trees of the brightest green leaf. Alongside the trees are vines abundantly blessed with grapes (in late September). You take a swiss aerial tram up to the winery. It takes you high up over the valley and you can see other chateaus on the hillsides. It's a wonderful feeling! You have the tram to yourselves, since it seats only 4 people.

At the top, you are now in Sterling's Greek-inspired winery, with its architecture that mimics that found on the isle of Mykonos. While you walk the gorgeous, stream-lined, wood-floored rooms, flat screen TVs lead you on a self-guided tour. This is perfect if you're the kind of impatient person who doesn't like to get stuck in a tour group- or if you're with kids! You learn how wine is made, and you see the attractive barrels with the cool wet mist keeping them moist. The barrels are HUGE and particularly impressive to kids. My son cried out, "This is SO fun!" after I'd had to drag him out for the day!
Next, a panoramic lookout over the valley offers a balcony to relax on. They should have appetizers here- it's a wonderful spot that's wasted. The views are breath-taking.
Lastly, you reach the tasting room (which is included in the initial price). On a peaceful balcony with a perfect cool breeze (which you need in roasty Napa Valley) and views of pines and mountains. Bells from a church in East London ring every fifteen minutes. You sit at a little table and taste 5 delicious wines! Kids are given a Capri-Sun juice and a coloring paper with crayons. The only downer is that there's no cheeses or food, so your child ends up with an untempered sugar rush and you leave with a queasy wine-on-an-empty stomach feeling. It's all downhill from there! And literally, you take the tram down to where you began. Afterwards, drive over to Calistoga's main street, Lincoln Avenue, to find something to eat...
While in Calistoga, take a stroll around pretty grounds and Jade Lake, at Montelena Chateau, just north on Highway 29.

Directions

1111 Dunaweal Lane, Calistoga. Call (800) 726-6136. Cost for everything is $32 for adults, $15 for kids under 21 years old, free for kids aged three and under.
Hours are 10am-5pm daily.
From Highway 29, turn towards the mountains on Dunaweal Lane and the winery is on your right. There is no street sign for Dunaweal Lane if southbound, so look out for the large sign for Twomey Winery and turn there.
Highway 29 is very confusing in this area, and if you're not aware, you could get lost. Coming northbound, it's simple enough to get to Sterling Vineyards; however, to get to Calistoga town afterwards, you must turn right on Lincoln Ave (which is Highway 29 continued at a right angle) in order to stay on Highway 29.
From Highway 29 southbound, you must turn left after Calistoga town, in order to stay on Highway 29. Follow the signs when you get to Foothill Blvd. Then after you turn left, you will soon see the Twomey sign, where you turn left again to get to Sterling.

Click on map for interactive view