The unavoidable trip to Napa

For years now, I've avoided going to Napa. Instead, I've opted for other wine regions in California, the "up-and-coming" locales that, ironically, have been around for a while, but have only been overshawdowed by the Napa Valley wineries. This past weekend, we went for the first time to one of the Napa wineries.

View of Napa from the patio

Sterling Vineyards has, perhaps, some of the most stunning views in Napa Valley. The winery is a beautiful, expansive structure that is set atop a hill that overlooks the vineyard surrounding it and the entire Napa Valley below, a white jewel against a lush, green velvet bed. To get there, guests take a 3 1/2 minute ride up the hill on an aerial tram. The complex is large and guided tours are offered, though we opted to show ourselves around. The patio areas were strategically built to offer fantastic views of the area.

It all seems like a bit grandiose, no? To me, Sterling encapsulates my (and some other people's) long-held stereotype of Napa Valley: It's too trendy, too snotty, and too pretentious, and filled by too many people of those same descriptions. A $25 gondola ride--an entrance fee, really--up a hill to the winery? Guided tours of the facility? Seriously, what is this--a winery or an amusement park? The libations are good, sure, but not great--definitely not up to the level you'd expect a sun-bleached, commercially refined winery on top of a hill to be, especially since they upped expectations by having the beautiful and elegant (and host of Top Chef) Padma Lakshmi as their spokesperson.

St. Francis Winery in Sonoma

The reason I've held off from trekking to Napa for so long was to avoid the trappings of traffic along the St. Helena Highway, and the ostentatious people with their fake tans and sense of self-entitlement trying to be all snooty and sophisticated. And to pay for wine tastings! The gall of it! I've yet to pay for a wine tasting at any of the wineries in Sonoma Valley, the foothills, or even little old Clarksburg. And honestly, I enjoy the more rustic, cozier, and down-to-earth atmosphere at these locations so much more.

Are the Napa Valley wineries worth a visit? Certainly, it's worth a trip or two. But there are other places that are just as good and much more accessible, without the pompous attitude. Save the amusement park ride; pass me the vino.