Esterlina Vineyards & Winery
1200 Holmes Ranch Road, Box 2
Philo, CA
707.895.2920
www.esterlinavineyards.com

Off a beaten path in a city called Philo is a well known family treasure.  Esterlina, Spanish for Sterling and an apt name for a winery, is the heart of the Sterling family's vineyards and winemaking business. Originally based in Anderson Valley on California's Mendocino Coast, Esterlina has vineyards in sought-after appellations including the Anderson, Russian River, and Alexander Valleys. The family exclusively owns America's smallest AVA (American Viticultural Area), Cole Ranch in Ukiah, California, from which it harvests fruit for Esterlina's world class Rieslings, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot.

The Esterlina Winery rests at the top of a steep two and a half mile winding dirt road off Highway 128, in Mendocino's Anderson Valley. Visitors who make the long trek are rewarded with spectacular views and the gracious hospitality of the Sterling family.

The experience converts visitors into fierce brand advocates.  In addition, Esterlina's wine club has grown to an enviable size, largely through word-of-mouth.

The history behind this family's success caught Cuisine Noir's attention immediately.  Currently, less than 25% of winemakers in the United States are African-American.  Similar to the story of winemaker Mac MacDonald, the foundation of the family business goes back to previous generations.  For the Sterlings, it was the family's agricultural roots that set the stage for a successful entry into the wine industry.

The Sterlings are from a long line of farmers. Mario Sterling, the family patriarch, was raised on a ranch in Baton Rouge, Louisiana where his father Joseph carried on the tradition of home winemaking.  After college and the Korean War, Mario purchased cattle ranches and grew row crops in California's Central and Mendocino Valleys in the 1970s.  The family also owns and maintains farms and cattle ranches in the Dominican Republic.

A chance conversation turned Mario's attention to grape cultivation. The chat inspired rekindled memories of his fathers' home winemaking experiences from his childhood. He could not foresee that this inspiration would be the seed of an idea from which Esterlina and a thriving family business would grow.

Although his sons were all ensconced in successful careers of their own, each one would be enticed to join their parents in the wine business.  Eric Sterling, who continues his practice as an emergency room doctor, led the way investing in the first vineyard and later learning winemaking and viticulture. Early in Esterlina's evolution Steve Sterling spent weekends on site, applying his MBA training and marketing expertise to building direct sales and establishing a brand strategy. Craig Sterling, a lawyer and MBA with a concentration in entrepreneurship, joined the team in 2002, overseeing operations and serving as chief legal counsel. Chris Sterling, the vineyard manager and assistant winemaker, always had a hand in the family's farming operations, first in the Dominican Republic and later managing the Sonoma vineyards. Beginning by helping out on weekends, then in part time capacities, each brother's responsibilities grew, as did their roles in shaping a successful business strategy.

Scouting potential vineyard sites, Mario and Eric grew the family's holdings, purchasing the Russian River property in 1995, Cole Ranch in 1996, Anderson Valley 2000 and Everett Ridge in Sonoma's Dry Creek Valley in 2006.  Demand for high-quality wine grapes was strong and the family sold its fruit to premium wineries in Sonoma and Napa Counties. With the 1998 vintage, Eric made his first foray into commercial wine production, producing Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, Cole Ranch Riesling and Anderson Valley Pinot Noir.  From its first release, Esterlina wines set high quality standards with the 1998 Anderson Valley Pinot Noir winning a Gold Medal at San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition.

Since then, Esterlina has become a culinary standard for those enjoying great food and wine.  Often called a novelty, Esterlina wines have a diverse clientele list including the White House Administration and several local restaurants such as 1300 on Fillmore which is featured in Cuisine Noir's December restaurant review.  As the success of this award winning winery continues, so does the success of African-American winemakers around the country and world.  Their contribution to the industry is simultaneously making history.

The Sterling's vineyards showcase the strengths of each of the five appellations in which they own vineyards.  The winemaking style is true to place, emphasizing balance, elegance and subtlety. The family maintains close control over the vineyard practices, with Mario managing the Mendocino County properties and youngest son Chris overseeing the Sonoma County vineyards. Working closely together, the winemaking team fine-tunes their knowledge and practices with each vintage which has become the model of longevity for the family business.

The Sterling family: "Quietly making wines too good to ignore".

V. Sheree is a contributor editor for Cuisine Noir Magazine and publicist.  She lives in California. Read more about V. Sheree.