Patrick W.
Yelp
Sterling Vineyards Wine Tasting - Honestly, not worth it. For $85 a head, I expected something memorable, but it was just blah. The self-guided tour? Lame as fuck. You're basically wandering around aimlessly, looking at wine storage tanks like that's supposed to be exciting. Oh, and they have this projector setup, but guess what? No audio. Not exactly the immersive experience I had in mind. I walked out knowing absolutely nothing about the company or how they make their wine. For that price, I could've stayed home, bought a great bottle, and watched "How It's Made" on YouTube. At least then I'd actually learn something.
Besides the storage rooms, you also get treated to the sight of rusty panels and roofs. Real classy, right? For a place that's supposed to be a premium experience, it sure felt like I was wandering around an industrial yard that hasn't been updated in decades.
The gondola ride? Fine, I guess. The views were nice, but that's about it. The first staff member we ran into after stepping off the gondola was a total downer--grumpy as hell and clearly hated being there. Not exactly the warm welcome you'd expect from a place like this.
Now, shoutout to Sean, the one bright spot in this whole experience. Dude was super chill, patient, and really made an effort to make my wife's birthday feel special. He gave us time to enjoy the views and the wine without rushing us, and honestly, that's the only reason this day wasn't a complete waste.
But here's the thing--I just believe that my wife, who's a preschool teacher for special needs kids and works her heart out every single day, deserves so much more. I wanted to give her an exceptional experience, and I'm disappointed in myself for trusting that this vineyard would deliver that, especially since their website hyped it up like it was going to be something incredible. Instead, I feel like I got cheated on. They sold me on this idea of luxury and uniqueness, but it was all fluff with no substance.
Bottom line? If your partner's happy, cool, maybe it's worth it. But if you're expecting a truly amazing wine tasting experience, skip this overpriced snoozefest and spend your money somewhere that actually delivers.