Sterling Vineyards is one of the most recognizable landmarks in Napa Valley: a white Mediterranean-style winery set on a 300-foot hilltop above Calistoga, accessible by a gondola that lifts visitors above the valley floor for a panoramic arrival experience. Founded in 1964 by Peter Newton and Michael Stone, and now owned by Treasury Wine Estates, Sterling has introduced more visitors to Napa Valley wine than perhaps any other winery in the region. The self-guided tasting experience, sweeping views, and approachable wine portfolio make it a standard starting point for first-time visitors to the valley.

From Peter Newton to Treasury Wine Estates: Sterling’s History

Sterling Vineyards was founded in 1964 by Peter Newton and Michael Stone, who built the distinctive white winery on a knoll above the Napa Valley floor near Calistoga. Newton later went on to found Newton Vineyard on Spring Mountain, but his initial work at Sterling helped establish both the winery and its iconic visual identity.

The aerial gondola was added in 1973, transforming the tasting experience from a simple winery visit into something closer to a destination attraction. Visitors board the tram at the base of the hill and ascend to the winery with views of the valley spreading out below them on all sides. On arrival, a self-guided tour takes guests through the winery’s production areas before reaching the tasting terrace.

Sterling passed through several ownership changes before landing with Treasury Wine Estates, the Australian wine conglomerate that also owns Beringer, Stags’ Leap Winery, and other prominent Napa brands. Under Treasury’s ownership, Sterling has maintained its focus on visitor experience and accessible Napa Valley Cabernet while expanding its portfolio of reserve and premium tier wines.

Sterling’s hilltop gondola has been carrying visitors to the winery since 1973, making it one of Napa Valley’s longest-running and most distinctive tasting experiences, with views stretching across the northern valley toward Calistoga and beyond.

Calistoga at the Northern End of Napa Valley

Sterling Vineyards sits near Calistoga, the northernmost town in Napa Valley and one that has been gaining recognition in its own right as a distinct Cabernet Sauvignon appellation. The Calistoga AVA, established in 2009, encompasses the northern end of the valley floor and lower hillside vineyards where the combination of volcanic soils, warm days, and cool nights from the distant bay influence produces Cabernet Sauvignon with distinctive character.

The northern valley is warmer than the Carneros region at the southern end, which gives Calistoga Cabernet richer, rounder fruit character and a plush texture on the palate. The volcanic soils in this part of the valley, influenced by the proximity to Mount St. Helena and the volcanic geology of the region, add a mineral dimension that distinguishes Calistoga wines from those produced on the deeper alluvial soils of the valley center.

Sterling’s vineyards span multiple locations within the broader valley, giving the winery access to different soil types and microclimates. The self-guided tasting experience uses educational materials that help visitors understand these geographic differences.

The Wines: Napa Valley Cabernet, Sterling Platinum, and Single-Vineyard Bottlings

Sterling’s portfolio is organized across several tiers designed to accommodate different price points and wine experience levels. The Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is the entry point: approachable, well-structured, with ripe dark fruit and enough backbone to pair well with food. It represents the accessible, visitor-friendly face of the Sterling lineup.

The Sterling Platinum tier represents the reserve level, with wines selected from the best barrels and vineyard sources each vintage. The Platinum Cabernet Sauvignon shows more concentration, complexity, and aging potential than the estate-level wines, with greater mid-palate depth and more pronounced tannin structure.

Single-vineyard designate Cabernets round out the premium tier, giving collectors and serious wine drinkers a route into site-specific expressions from Sterling’s best vineyard sources. For visitors arriving by gondola, the tasting experience typically progresses through the lineup from the most accessible to the most premium, providing an educational arc that works for experienced wine drinkers and newcomers alike.

Food Pairings for Sterling Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon

Sterling Vineyards Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is designed to be approachable with food, with ripe fruit, moderate tannins, and enough structure to complement a range of dishes without requiring the same heavy red meat pairings demanded by the most tannic mountain Cabernets. The fundamental pairing principle remains: tannins bind to proteins, softening both the wine and the food into a more harmonious experience than either would deliver alone.

For the Napa Valley Cabernet, excellent choices include roasted chicken with herbs, grilled pork tenderloin, or a pasta with a tomato-based meat sauce. The wine’s ripe fruit and moderate tannins work well with lighter protein sources that would be overwhelmed by a more aggressive mountain Cabernet. Burgers with aged cheddar make a more casual but genuinely excellent pairing at the accessible price point.

The Platinum Cabernet, with its greater concentration and structure, moves naturally into the territory of red meats: a grilled New York strip steak, lamb chops with rosemary, or beef tenderloin. For visitors tasting on the hilltop terrace, the winery’s food pairing suggestions complement the self-guided experience. The pairing chemistry applies equally in the tasting room and at home: protein in food softens the tannins, and the wine’s acidity refreshes the palate with every sip.

Sterling Vineyards: Frequently Asked Questions