Founded in 1964 by British natives Michael Stone and Peter Newton, Sterling Vineyards was conceived with a distinctly European sensibility. Its striking white architecture, inspired by the sunlit forms of the Greek island of Mykonos, rises above the Napa Valley on a volcanic knoll, setting it apart from the region’s more traditional estates. It is a visual statement that has become one of the most recognisable in California wine.
Yet it is the journey upward that defines Sterling. Guests ascend via aerial gondola, gliding above the vineyards as the valley opens out below. It is not simply transport. It is theatre. There is no other way in, and that is entirely the point.
At the summit, the experience continues as a self-guided exploration of wine, place and process. Sterling offers a thoughtfully curated suite of tasting experiences, each designed to make Napa Valley accessible, whether you are a seasoned collector or stepping into wine country for the first time. Movement is encouraged. Discovery is part of the design. Each terrace, each tasting experience, reveals another facet of the estate and its wines. This is wine tourism conceived as immersion rather than transaction.
Under the direction of winemaker Lauren Kopit, the wines themselves reflect a quiet precision. Her approach balances scientific discipline with an instinctive understanding of vineyard expression, resulting in wines that are both structured and inviting.
“Sterling has always been about opening the door to Napa Valley,” Kopit says. “What matters now is making sure that what people discover here feels genuine to the place and the moment.”
Her focus lies in drawing clarity from complexity, allowing vineyard character and vintage variation to guide the final blend. “We are listening more than we are directing,” she explains. “The goal is not to impose a style, but to reveal what is already there.”
After more than sixty years, Sterling Vineyards remains as singular as the day it opened. The gondola still astonishes. The Mykonos-white architecture still catches the light in ways that feel almost unreal and the wines continue to evolve, shaped by a philosophy that respects both heritage and change.
To arrive at the top, glass in hand and watch the Napa Valley stretch out beneath you in the afternoon light is to understand the enduring appeal of this place. It is not about elevation in the physical sense, but in the way the experience lingers. This is not merely a winery visit. It is Napa Valley, elevated in every sense of the word.
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Photo credit: Max Whittaker for Visit Napa Valley