I just returned home from an unforgettable getaway with my girlfriends. Six of us embarked on an adventure north of San Francisco to visit the beautiful Californian Wine Country – Napa Valley. We were graciously hosted by Sterling Wines, one of the most well-known and premier winemakers in the country. Sterling invited us to experience the winery and learn more about living your life with more sparkle, a new brand new campaign they call #SterlingLuster.

The trip began with checking into our super spacious and luxurious suites at The Andaz. The hotel is situated in the center of downtown Napa, which is walking distance to many of the area’s best restaurants, bars, and boutiques. After a quick rest in our rooms, we all walked a few blocks to Carpe Diem Wine Bar for dinner. We had a beautiful, candle-lit dinner accompanied by pairings of a variety of Sterling Wines. The evening was filled with all of my favorite things — friends, laughter, great food, and even better wine.

We had an early start the following day, where we all boarded a luxury bus and headed to Sterling Vineyards in Calistoga, which is about a 45-minute drive from downtown Napa. Entering the expansive grounds of the vineyard took my breath away — Sterling Vineyards sits on 70 acres of green, lush, and fertile land. The smell of ripe fruit and crushed grapes filled the air, as we were visiting in the most opportune season called crush, when the grapes are harvested off the vines.

Sterling had set up a private tour of the reserve winemaking process for our group, which was so special since the facilities are not usually open to the public. It was not my first time in Napa, but it was my first time experiencing the behind-the-scenes perspective. We were able to witness the entire process: harvesting, sorting, de-stemming, crushing, fermenting, clarifying, and bottling. Seeing the process firsthand definitely gave me a whole new appreciation for the art of winemaking.

After the private viewing with the winemakers, we took the aerial tram (Sterling is the only vineyard in the world to have a tram of this kind!) up to the top of the mountain where the rest of the winery sits. The views from the tram and the winery were remarkable. There, we went a walking tour of the rest of the winery which is open to the public, tasting sips of wine straight from the barrels and taking in the panoramic views of the entire valley.

Lunch was served in a private room with a terrace, where we enjoyed a variety of Sterling Wine pairings. Some of my favorites wines from lunch were the Platinum Chardonnay and Platinum Proprietary White — both perfect tastes for light lunches.

One of the most memorable activities from the day came after, where we had the chance to try grape stomping! Grape stomping is an old  method of maceration, used in traditional winemaking. Rather than using a wine press like we had seen earlier, grapes used to be crushed by foot in vats to release their juices and begin fermentation. Although the method is no longer used, it was a lot of fun to experience the historic tradition.

Last, but certainly not least, we were driven to the charming Rutherford House, which is used to host special guests, private events and parties. The 10,000 square foot, 5-bedroom house sits on an expansive vineyard, surrounded by overgrown trees and beautiful flowers. There, we took an interactive cooking class with Chef Joey Altman, a James Beard Award winner and excellent chef. We learned how to make some incredible dishes and how to pair wines with them. The hands-on cooking made eating the meal that much more enjoyable.

Needless to say, there was no shortage of wine at dinner. My favorites from the dinner selection were 2012 Carneros Pinot Noir,  2012 Reserve Chardonnay, and the Sterling Sparkling Brut.

The next morning we all hopped back on the bus and headed to the airport. Everyone was feeling great, and had plenty of wine to take home to share with friends and family. I cannot wait for my next dinner party, as I know all of my friends will love the selection of Sterling Wines I have procured (and plan to continue collecting) to keep on hand in my wine cabinet, I cannot imagine another party without it. Sterling Wines will enhance any occasion with unique varietal expression, inviting personality, and delicious taste.

** Kindly note: I am working in partnership with Sterling Wines and I am being compensated for my participation in this campaign. All thoughts/opinions are 100% my own. Wine is intended for those whom alcohol is legal and appropriate. Please drink responsibly!