Calistoga · Napa Valley
Visit Sterling Vineyards with a Private Chauffeur
An aerial gondola ride to a hilltop winery above Calistoga, and a suggested six-hour day of tasting around it.
Book a Six-Hour Wine Tour
About the Winery
Sterling Vineyards was founded in 1964 by Peter Newton, who was born in England, and his partner Michael Stone. Its 1969 vintage was the first vintage-dated Merlot from Napa Valley. The white hilltop winery, designed by Martin Waterfield and inspired by the Greek island of Mykonos, opened in 1972.
The winery sits on a knoll about 300 feet above the valley floor, and guests reach it by aerial gondola, which Sterling calls the only winery gondola in the world. The winery closed after the 2020 Glass Fire and reopened in October 2023 with a rebuilt gondola whose cabins now carry eight people.
Every tasting includes the gondola ride and views across the northern end of the valley, with wines led by Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Sauvignon Blanc. It is one of the few wineries in the valley that welcomes families, which makes it an easy first stop for a mixed group.
Tasting Fees
$55 for the Sterling Stroll, a self-guided tasting, about an hour. $85 for Tour & Terrace with a cheese board, $95 for the Hilltop Experience and $150 for the Founder's food and wine pairing, each about 90 minutes. Every experience includes the gondola ride.
Tasting fees as of September 2026. Wineries set and collect their own fees, and they change from time to time.
At a Glance
Location
1111 Dunaweal Lane, Calistoga
AVA
Calistoga
Visiting
Open daily from 10 a.m., with the last Sterling Stroll tasting at 4:30 p.m. Reservations are recommended, and walk-ins are welcome for the Sterling Stroll.
Known For
Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and the aerial gondola
Founded
1964
Good to Know
Up to 14 guests can book the Sterling Stroll online; larger groups arrange through the winery. The Sterling Stroll and Tour & Terrace are open to all ages, with a $25 ticket for guests 3 to 20; other experiences are 21 and over. No pets; service animals welcome. The gondola does not run above 100°F.
A Suggested Six-Hour Day
Pickup at 10:00 a.m. from a Calistoga hotel such as the Four Seasons Resort Napa Valley or Solage.
10:00 · Pickup at the Four Seasons or Solage
Stay close and the tasting starts right away. The Four Seasons Resort Napa Valley, with its own vineyard, is about 3 minutes from Sterling, and Solage, an Auberge resort on the Silverado Trail, is about 5 minutes away. The day below fits a six-hour tour, and extra time can be added by the hour.
10:15 · Sterling Vineyards
The gondola up, then the self-guided Sterling Stroll, about an hour ($55).
11:30 · Clos Pegase
Across the road. A postmodern winery designed by Michael Graves, reopened in 2026 after a full restoration, with hillside caves and an art collection. The Art of Wine tour through the vineyards, gallery and gardens is about 65 minutes ($90). By reservation.
12:50 · Lunch at Solbar
About 5 minutes away. Lunch at Solbar, the restaurant at Solage on the Silverado Trail. Prefer a picnic? We can arrange a catered picnic at a winery that allows one; the cost is quoted when you book.
2:10 · Larkmead Vineyards
About 8 minutes away. One of Napa Valley's oldest family estates, founded in 1895 and farmed organically. The seated salon tasting of three red wines runs 45 to 60 minutes (about $90). By appointment.
3:30 · Back to your hotel
Back by 4:00 p.m., six hours after pickup.
Optional: Romeo Vineyards & Cellars
Adds about an hour. A small tasting room on Lincoln Avenue in downtown Calistoga. Walk-ins are welcome for parties under 6; open from noon, with the last tasting at 5 p.m. Tastings are $30, waived with the purchase of two bottles.
About $235 per person in tasting fees for the three wineries, paid directly to each winery.
Three wineries is the right pace for a day of serious tasting. The fourth stop is there if the day allows.
Every tour is custom. This day is a starting point: your chauffeur will shape it around what matters to you, and we plan multi-day tours for guests who want to see more of wine country.
Your Vehicle & Six-Hour Tour Rates
Up to 6 guests
Elite Luxury SUV
Lincoln Navigator or Cadillac Escalade
From $750
Six-hour wine tour, plus 20% gratuity. Additional hours $125 each.
Up to 9 guests
Jet Sprinter or Executive Luxury Van
Captain's chairs and room to spread out
From $1,350
Six-hour wine tour, plus 20% gratuity. Additional hours $225 each.
Larger groups travel in more than one vehicle, and we plan the winery appointments around your group, since many wineries limit groups to 6 to 8 guests. Tasting fees are separate and paid directly to each winery. Every tour starts with six hours; add time by the hour when you book.
Questions
Do I need a reservation at Sterling Vineyards?
Reservations are recommended. Walk-ins are welcome for the Sterling Stroll, and the other experiences need a booking. When you book a tour with us, your chauffeur makes the reservation for you.
How much does the Sterling gondola cost?
The gondola is included in every tasting; there are no gondola-only tickets. Tastings start at $55 per person for the Sterling Stroll, as of September 2026.
Is the Sterling Vineyards gondola open?
Yes. It reopened in October 2023 after the 2020 Glass Fire, with new cabins that hold eight people. It does not run when the temperature is above 100°F.
Can children visit Sterling Vineyards?
Yes. Guests of all ages can join the Sterling Stroll and Tour & Terrace, with a $25 ticket for ages 3 to 20. The other experiences are 21 and over.
How long is a visit to Sterling Vineyards?
About an hour for the Sterling Stroll and about 90 minutes for the seated experiences, including the gondola ride.
How does booking a tour with Bien Chauffeured work?
Reserve a six-hour tour online, even if your plans are still taking shape. Your chauffeur will email you first to learn what matters to you, then build your itinerary and make the winery appointments. Extra hours can be added.
Reserve Your Tour Now, Plan the Details Later
Your plans don't need to be final to book. Reserve your six-hour tour online, and your chauffeur will email you first to learn what matters to you, then build your itinerary and make the winery appointments. Prefer to talk? Call our concierge at 888-291-2328.
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