Sterling Vineyards

Sterling Vineyards includes a sprawling eight ranches and vineyards spread around Napa Valley. The Diamond Mountain Ranch lies west of the town of Calistoga, near the top of the Diamond Mountain American Viticultural Area. The ranch’s 120 acres, planted with Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Petit Verdot, and Cabernet Franc, range in elevation from 1,700 to 2,000 feet, climbing the steep northern face of the Mayacamas Mountains. Nearly vertical slopes, austere soils, and dry farming stress the vines planted here, and low-vigor volcanic soils provide minimal nutrition. This results in small, intensely concentrated fruit clusters that make deeply pigmented, assertive wines with full body and rich tannins. The Bear Flats Estate Vineyard lies north of the town of St. Helena and slopes from Highway 29 to the Napa River. This location within the Calistoga AVA of Napa Valley allows the vineyard to experience hotter daytime temps following cool mornings that extend the ripening period. Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot thrive, producing grapes with rich, plush flavors and optimal ripeness, in the well-drained, gravelly loam soil of this 87-acre vineyard. North of St. Helena, on the east side of Highway 29, Larsen Ranch features alluvial clay loam on both sides of the Napa River. This site’s 50 acres are planted exclusively to Sauvignon Blanc and Cabernet Sauvignon. Southwest of the town of Calistoga, Peterson Ranch rises from 700 to 900 feet above the valley floor. The complex aspects of the terraced mountain sides create micro climates within the vineyard. The Cabernet Sauvignon planted here develops concentrated varietal expression in the well-drained, deep, rich loam of this vineyard’s 60 planted acres. Wines from this vineyard are very intense with weight and richness that give way to complex layers of aroma and flavor. Located south of the town of Calistoga, Calistoga Ranch sits astride the Napa River and is comprised of alluvial loam soils. The cooling influence of the Napa River ensures cool mornings followed by hot days allowing for longer ripening period. The vineyard's 45 acres are planted exclusively to Sauvignon Blanc, which develop a bright varietal expression. The meticulously farmed Sleeping Lady Vineyard is located in the Yountville AVA of the Napa Valley. The Sleeping Lady Vineyard, on the west bench of Yountville sitting up against the Mayacamas Mountains, and is named for the distinctive foothills behind the property that look like a woman laying on her side. The pristine vineyard of just over 50 acres has six clones of Cabernet Sauvignon grown on it; Sterling Vineyards winemaker Harry Hansen works with three of these clones (2, 22, and 30). The Yates Family vineyard is found moderately high, just above the town of Napa, planted at an elevation of 1,100 feet. Mt. Veeder is one of Napa’s most unique AVAs, the southernmost and coolest growing region, known for an extended growing season and volcanic soils with a variety of micro climates. The vineyard is found at the end of Redwood Road, near the Archer Taylor Preserve managed by the Land Trust of Napa Valley. Vineyards were first planted here in the 1860s and have been used by Sterling via a long-term partnership. The Tamagni Estate Vineyard is comprised of 53 planted acres that lie south of the town of Calistoga between the Silverado Trail and the Napa River. Situated within the prestigious Calistoga AVA of Napa Valley, the vineyard is primarily planted to Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot, Malbec, and Cabernet Franc. These varieties thrive in this property’s sandy loam, clay loam, and alluvial loam soils.