Doppelmayr: Sterling Vineyards Gondola Lift reopens

Sterling Vineyards, one of Napa Valley’s (California, USA) most iconic wineries, is celebrating its reopening. Doppelmayr is proud to support our customer Treasury Wine Estates with a new gondola lift.

Following the 2020 Glass Fire that forced their closure, Sterling Vineyards has been doing extensive work to restore the property as well as installing a new Doppelmayr D-Line ropeway with comfortable OMEGA V cabins in preparation for the return of their guests. The new 8-MGD installation takes wine lovers soaring over a triangular track profile to the tasting site that offers a pleasant privacy and best views of the Palisades Mountains.

Thanks to a solar installation, the plant will run on 100 percent sustainable energy as of 2024. As the only winery in the world with an aerial gondola, this new ropeway further enhances the guest experience at Sterling Vineyards while paying homage to the original 4-seater gondola that began its service in the 1970’s.

Doppelmayr wins O&M contract

In addition to the contract for the new construction of the gondola, the customer is also placing its full trust in Doppelmayr when it comes to operation and maintenance (O&M). With a five-year contract for operation, maintenance, station monitoring and guest service, Doppelmayr Cable Car is proud to be working with Sterling Vineyards to create a holistic and, above all, exceptional customer experience.

Background

For three years the doors of Sterling Vineyards remained closed when wildfire swept through the Napa Valley, north of San Francisco. In 2020, the natural disaster damaged much of the worldwide renowned wine region. This was also the case at Sterling Vineyards, which, in addition to its products, was known for its exceptional overall experience from 1964 to 2020, especially due to its gondola lift.

After a three-year break and rebuilding phase, Sterling Vineyards officially reopened to guests on October 28, 2023. Included is a new D-Line gondola lift, which will carry wine lovers across the vineyard and reward them with the best views of the Palisades Mountains. Here, comfortable OMEGA V cabins with panoramic windows invite guests to enjoy a fantastic 360-degree view.