"Sippy Cups Are Not For Chardonnay"

As I pondered what to name this post, I remembered a tongue-in-cheek parenting book that I read many moons ago, and felt the title was relate-able so I borrowed it. Today is February 1, and another dry day in California, further adding to our drought woes. But since it's the weekend and Randy is off, we headed out to the beautiful Napa Valley. Now, most people I know wouldn't dream of bringing their kids to wine country, let alone into a winery. I agree that it's not the most kid-friendly place, but I did my research and chose a winery that had a more relaxed atmosphere. Besides, I tend to toe the line between "kid-friendly" and "adults only", because I firmly believe that exposing my kids to more mature environments helps develop their social skills, broadens their knowledge and teaches them about appropriate behavior. 

Today we took a leisurely drive out to Calistoga, a tiny, quaint town about 25 miles past Napa, to visit Sterling Vineyards. 

Waiting for his tram ticket

I chose Sterling because it was often named in travel articles and blog posts for people seeking kid-friendly activities in wine country. A big selling point for the little people in your life is the aerial tram that takes you up to the actual winery. The views are impressive and kiddos love the ride.

The only winery with an aerial tram

All aboard!

Cruz was a little apprehensive at first

View from the tram

Admission price at Sterling includes a tasting of 5 varietals. We tasted a pinot gris, sauvignon blanc, a meritage (a blend of Bordeauxs), zinfandel and a sweet muscat. Our favorite pour was the pinot gris - crisp, bright, refreshing with apple notes. Delicious!

Souvenir glasses for wine tasting

Sterling is aesthetically unique in the Napa Valley. It's architecture is modeled after classic buildings found in Mykonos, Greece. With it's whitewashed walls set against the cerulean sky today, I could almost imagine myself in Greece...wishful thinking!

Antique church bells that chime hourly

The winery offers a self-guided tour, and the tour takes you to a couple of outdoor patios that allow you to take in the sweeping vista of the valley around you. Despite the parched grasses and browner-than-usual vineyards, the view was still beautiful. It felt so good to sip a glass of wine, bask in the sun and watch the kids scamper about.

Great vantage point

The self-guided tour was great because it allowed us to go at our own pace.

Initial fermentation tanks

Watching a video on harvesting and fermentation

Top quality Oak barrels for aging

There were also beautiful pieces of artwork throughout the winery, all done by local artists.

Hallway of art

After the winery, we popped into downtown Calistoga for a late lunch at one of the many eateries on the main drag. On the return trip home, we made pit stops in St. Helena and Napa for some shopping and strolling.

We are so blessed to live an hour away from this world-renowned wine making region, and even more blessed that we get to enjoy it as a family. I highly recommend Sterling Vineyards for any parents who want to have their wine and drink it too!