One of Napa Valley's most popular wineries is one step closer to reopening after it sustained major damage during the 2020 Glass Fire.
Located just Southeast of Calistoga in California, Sterling Winery was in the crosshairs of the Glass Fire, which scorched 67,484 acres of land over 23 days.
"The fire basically engulfed all sides of the winery and encroached up to the winery," Rachel Ashley, senior vice president of supply for Treasury Wine Estates, told KCBS Radio.
The property's visitor center was damaged, as well as a 40-year-old tram that offers visitors spectacular views of Napa Valley.
Ashley said a rebuild of the tram presented challenges. "A lot of those parts we just couldn't replace, so part of the insurance process was recognizing that the whole tram would need to be replaced, but with that a great opportunity to improve the experience," she said.
The new tram cars will be larger, include more glass for better viewing, ADA accessibility and a new route to the north side of the property. Along with the upgrades, the winery is also investing in fire prevention.
"We made sure that we've got the right defensible space," Ashley explained, as the winery sits in the center of highly flammable redwoods and pine trees.
Sterling Winery is set to reopen in summer of 2023.
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