Black Stallion Estate

4089 Silverado Trail, Napa, CA 94558

Website: http://www.blackstallionwinery.com/

Black Stallion is one of the younger wineries in Napa Valley. It opened in July 2007.  It is located off of the Silverado Trail in the Oak Knoll district. The Black Stallion name relates to its location on the grounds of a historic equestrian center.  A shiny black stallion statue marks the entrance to the winery. The winery itself is constructed of stone with large wooden doors at the entryways and is surrounded by estate vineyards.

Black Stallion Tasting Room

Inside, the tasting room is a wide-open space with dark wood floors and beams.  Upon entering there is a hostess stand and a large rectangular tasting bar. In front of the tasting bar are a few tables with chairs around a fireplace.  There are a couple of rooms off of the main tasting area with long tables set up for private experiences. One of those rooms had glass doors that allowed a view in the barrel room.  Opposite from the tasting bar are tall glass doors that lead out to the swanky terrace. The terrace is framed by dome-shaped stone pillars and has black, comfy sofa-like lounge chairs.  All of it is surrounded by nice views of the vineyards.

Black Stallion Terrace

The winery classifies their wines into three tiers – Heritage, Limited Release, and Prestige.  The Heritage tier is the more widely circulated wines. There are a number of tasting options and experiences available.  The most basic walk-in tastings offer a choice to sample just reds, just whites, or a mixture. Other options include the upgraded Prestige tasting of Black Stallion’s ultra-premium wines or a tasting on the terrace.  Additional private tastings and tours are offered by appointment. Check their website for details. Black Stallion specializes in Cabernet Sauvignon, but they also produce several other varietals including Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Merlot, Pinot Noir, and Zinfandel.

I visited this winery on two different occasions.  The first visit was soon after the winery opened, and my husband and I stopped in toward the end of the day.  There was a large crowd of people in the tasting room making it difficult to find a place at the tasting bar. Unfortunately my first impression of the wines was impaired by my frustration with the people who were continually bumping or crowding me.  It took me nearly ten years later to return and give it another try, but I always felt that I didn’t give the wines a fair shot. This time my husband and I planned a visit in the morning soon after they opened so we could avoid the crowds. It paid off.  We were the only guests in the tasting room when we first arrived and we got to take our time sampling the wines. We each did a tasting to share so that we could try a larger variety of their offerings. Overall I found their style of wines to be big and bold that should be aged and paired with food.  The prices on most of the reds are quite hefty as well.

I am glad that I gave Black Stallion a second shot.  I appreciated the winery much more when it wasn’t crowded.  If you are planning a visit I would definitely suggest picking a less busy time, like the mornings during a weekday.  If you are into bold reds, then this place is for you. Just be ready to splurge if you want to take some bottles home.