Here at Sterling, we are proud to say that we are the only winery in the world with an aerial tram. Since the 1970s, it’s carried guests to and from our hillside winery, showering them with spectacular views of the Napa Valley along the way. "At its peak, the aerial tram transported around 300,000 people a year," said tram assistant manager, Brian Bortolussi. “We’re the first and last thing people see when they visit Sterling Vineyards, and we do our best to make sure they’re happy on both sides.”
After the 2020 Northern California Glass Fire burned through the property, it was determined that tram system and support structures had to be replaced. This decision was bittersweet, but ultimately the team decided that the old tram couldn’t continue to operate and deserved an upgrade.
“Now is an opportunity to move to a new modern machine. I think the end result will be something spectacular,” said rebuilding lead, Paul Schlieder. The new tram will have 13 cabins just like the old one, but each car will house eight guests instead of four. With full-length panoramic windows, each cabin will offer 360-degree views of the Palisades Mountains and Valley floor. This new tram signals a fresh chapter for Sterling and we look forward to welcoming you back in 2023 and discovering a new Sterling together.
