Sterling Rising: A Behind-the-Scenes Look

Sterling Vineyards Update: April 2023

We invite you to stay connected with us by following our progress through behind-the-scenes photos and videos.

How it Started: the Glass Fire

The Napa Valley is known for its picturesque vineyards, rolling hills, and award-winning wineries. But in 2020, our idyllic region was hit by a devastating wildfire known as the Glass Fire. The fire started on September 27th, 2020, and quickly spread through Napa and Sonoma counties, fueled by strong winds and dry conditions. It burned an estimated 67,484 acres of land, destroying 1,555 structures and damaging another 280. The Glass Fire was responsible for one fatality and several injuries, forcing thousands of residents to evacuate their homes. Firefighters from across the state and beyond worked tirelessly to contain the blaze, putting their lives on the line to protect people, property, and wildlife.

The wine industry in Napa Valley was hit particularly hard by the Glass Fire, and the ripple effects are still being felt today. Several wineries were destroyed, landmark properties were burnt to the ground, and numerous vineyards suffered significant damage. Sterling Vineyards was saved from complete destruction, but we did not come out unscathed. It would be weeks after the fire began when firefighters finally deemed it safe enough to walk back onto the property to assess the extent of the situation. Once there, we saw a mix of structural damage to our offices, winemaking area, and tasting room and superficial damage to the back patio sail, among others.

One of the most devastating was the realization that we would have to replace our historic and beloved Sterling Aerial Tram system. Built in the early 1970s, the tram was a tourist attraction in its own right, with spectacular, uninterrupted aerial views of the valley, and known as a unique mode of transportation when visiting Sterling Vineyards. At its peak, the Sterling Aerial Tram transported nearly 300,000 guests annually.

In the midst of deliberating and planning, the decision was made to upgrade the tram to enhance the guest experience.

We broke ground in 2022 and began the transformation of our new Sterling Welcome Center and Aerial Tram. Later that year, production was in full swing to prepare the tram for its forever home at Sterling Vineyards. The lift was packaged and shipped from the Doppelmayr facility in Wolfurt, Austria, and arrived at Sterling Vineyards in late January 2023. In addition, the 13 new cabins, assembled in Olten, Switzerland, were delivered in February and are awaiting final installation on the lift.

Sterling Rising

The overall site renovation and reconstruction continue at pace. The upper mountain Visitor Center and Tasting Room will be completed by early summer, and the lower level of the guest campus will be finished in early autumn, all ahead of our planned October re-opening. Our dedicated team is hard at work, crafting innovative and exclusive tasting experiences for our esteemed wine club members and guests. Additionally, we are enhancing our Sterling tour of spectacular Napa Valley views from the top of our winery.

We invite you to stay connected with us by following our progress through behind-the-scenes photos and videos. Witness Sterling Vineyards' literally rising from the ashes, regaining its historic splendor, and bouncing back to once again being one of the most visited sites and sought-after destinations in the Napa Valley.

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