Our 50th and Why it Matters

 As we step into 2026, I’m filled with equal parts gratitude and amazement. This year brings a rare convergence for my family and for Iron Horse: our 50^th Anniversary, America’s 250^th, my mother and Iron Horse co-founder Audrey Sterling’s 95^th birthday, our winemaker David Munksgard’s 30^th vintage at Iron Horse, and, very auspiciously, the Year of the Horse in the lunar calendar. After all the planning behind our commemorative wines and celebratory gatherings, I can hardly believe we’re really here.

Fifty years is never a given for any family business. It is especially rare in California wine. Vineyards demand a long view. Markets shift. Families evolve. To remain family-owned, estate-driven, and committed to excellence for five decades takes a deep respect for the land, the people, and the vision my parents set in motion. We may never catch up with the Antinori family, whose story stretches back to the 14th century, but we are proud to be building something meant to last.

The Big House

Pioneers with Vision

Iron Horse was founded in 1976, one of the most transformative moments in California wine, when a small group of families believed American wines could stand alongside the world’s best. Here in Sonoma, that belief took a bold turn westward when my parents first saw Iron Horse in February, in the middle of a winter storm.

At the time, it was the westernmost vineyard in the county—so cold and frost-prone that UC Davis agricultural extension agents advised against buying it. But even in the driving rain, my parents fell in love with the land and sensed its promise. After tasting the estate’s 1974 Pinot Noir, they became the owners just two weeks later. The deed is dated March 1, 1976. As my mother has always said, fools rush in where angels fear to tread.

Our Home Place

There was no winery then—only a weathered Victorian farmhouse and a shared dream. The property was already called Iron Horse Ranch & Vineyards, named for a steam engine—the “Iron Horse”—that once stopped at Ross Station. Our logo, the rampant horse, was inspired by a 19^th-century weathervane uncovered during construction of the winery, which opened in October 1979 on my father’s 50^th birthday. Since then, the building has stayed the same, the road has changed, and the palm trees have grown into towering landmarks.

Barry and Audrey Sterling in the Early Days & at First Crush

Stewardship, Generosity, and Community

Neighbors Warren and Gail Dutton were the first to welcome my parents, setting a tone of generosity that still defines this community. As Californians who understood the value of water, the very first thing my parents did was build a reservoir and install frost protection. They restored the house in nine months and carved a garden out of a steep slope of wild blackberries. That forward-looking, optimistic spirit has guided Iron Horse ever since—and continues to shape how we work and what we celebrate.

At its heart, Iron Horse has always been guided by making wines of pleasure meant for sharing—wines with energy, balance, and a sense of ease at the table, bringing you a taste of our home place.

A Year of Celebrations

We begin with the release of Year of the Horse Blanc de Blancs, a Brut Zero that feels like pure forward motion—bright, elegant, and uplifting. 

From there, the year unfolds season by season. February brings a Lunar New Year celebration in San Francisco’s Chinatown. In March, we release Spirit of ’76 Jeroboams, honoring our Bicentennial founding as America approaches its 250^th. April features an Earth Day eco-tour of our creek restoration, glass of bubbly in hand. On May 5, we’ll mark my mother’s 95^th birthday with a taco truck at the winery, followed by a garden party on May 17. In summer, a special tasting flight around July 4^th will feature Spirit of ’76. September revives the legendary Harvest Lunches my mother once hosted—gatherings still remembered for how special it felt to be included. The year concludes with the launch of Golden Cuvée in magnum for the holidays.

See the full list of 50th Anniversary Events here.

The People Behind Iron Horse

Throughout the year, we’ll be honoring the people who make Iron Horse what it is—from the fourteen team members who have been with us for more than twenty years to our longest-standing club members, whose loyalty remains the heartbeat of our extended family and an essential part of the story we continue to build. Starting in early February, follow along on our YouTube channel. 

 Why Our 50^th Matters

Our 50^th matters not just because of a convergence of dates, but because Iron Horse has remained true to what we stand for. This year is not about a single moment, but about honoring the people, the land, and the shared belief that brought Iron Horse to this place in time. It is a year to be celebrated season by season, toast by toast, by everyone who is part of this story.