The Sterling family has been making wine under the Esterlina label, which is their name in Spanish, for more than a decade now, but their love of the 20-acre land dates back decades.
One of only a handful of black families that owns vineyards in America, the Sterlings farmed for three generations before getting into the wine business.
The patriarch, Murio Sterling, made wine at home while ranching grass-fed cattle and growing corn in the Central Valley. He and wife Doris eventually jumped into the wine business with their four sons — Stephen, Chris, Craig and Eric — all of whom work in the family business.
A recent tasting with other visitors at Esterlina Vineyards’ 20-acre spread — at the end of a two-mile gravel road off Highway 128 — felt like a family reunion. Crew member Dan Voisan put the eight of us at ease with a bowl of cheese puffs, healthy pours and a gracious grin.
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