Ah, Napa Valley. While I’m not born and raised here – I’ve been living here for almost a decade. When I met my husband, I moved here when things got serious (truth be told that wasn’t long). My husband and his family are all in the wine industry (wine makers, hospitality industry, grape growers) so I’ve had very close experience with hundreds of wines and wineries.
Black Stallion Estate Winery is located in the southern portion of the Napa Valley – so it’s great to either start (or end) your wine tasting day, since it’s on the southern end of the Silverado trail. It’s easy to hit it on your way back to your Napa hotel, as it’s located in the Oak Knoll district. They have an interesting history: it used to be an actual equestrian center, up until they opened as a winery in 2007 (the indoor riding track and the horse stalls are still there in the winemaking side of the grounds).
As a Napa local, I like how this winery isn’t pretentious or flashy – while it is definitely gorgeous, it really has that rustic California charm, evident from the moment you drive in with an ornate black stallion statue. There’s an amazing outdoor tasting patio that’s covered, and it’s right next to educational rows of grapevines. You can stroll through the grapevines and learn about the geography, different varietals, and take some great pictures while you’re wine tasting. The indoor tasting room, while small, is rustic, warm, and cozy with a fireplace and pays homage to its equestrian roots. There’s also a few cozy private tasting rooms and lounges for private events and club members.
If you’re looking to plan an event – this is a great place. They also have “out in the vineyard” packages, where you are driven to an exclusive location (they have a separate tasting house and exclusive patio area surrounded by vineyards) where you can host your special get together. Or, snag a cozy private tasting room in the main building.
And as a plus, their customer service is great. They’ve allowed me to customize tasting flights, given me extra pours, allowed me to make changes to my wine club shipment, and allowed me to pause my wine club membership while I was pregnant! Definitely awesome staff and relationships with customers.
Price point & Wines
I would say this winery is middle of the road for Napa’s current tasting and wine prices. With that, the wines are really good (and that’s coming from a wine growing & making family). They’re known for their reds – which is no surprise given Napa Valley is famous for its Cab. Some of my favorites are their Atlas Peak Cabernet Sauvignon, Barrel Reserve Pinot Noir, Albarino, and Sauvignon Blanc. There’s honestly only one wine varietal I don’t like here, and that’s the Chardonnay.
Tasting fees will range from $45+ and up, but those are waived for up to 4 guests if you join or are a wine club member. They have charcuterie and snacks for a fee as well. Read below for my experience as a club member.
Wine club
I cannot recommend this club enough. With the high price of Napa Valley these days, the base membership ranges from $175 – $275 on a quarterly basis, depending on if you choose mixed, all reds, or all whites.
- Wine club options range from $175 – $550, 4 times per year (depending on what you choose)
- Free tastings for you and 4 guests, each time you visit (and with tastings being $45+ per person, this is worth it)
- Gifts with each shipment (it’s usually a local food product, such as spices)
- Invitations to wine club events – they have fun ones, such as paella parties, harvest parties, etc.
- Discounted tastings at Francis Ford Coppola and Delicato
- Access to exclusive wines not available to the public
Kid & Dog Friendly
If you’ve been to Napa, then you know not a lot of wineries are truly kid friendly. Well, search no more – this one definitely is! I’ve brought my baby when he was 3 months old, 10 months old – and I’ve seen kids of all ages. They even have grape juice and offerings for the little ones. They’re also incredibly dog friendly. Now, you’ll probably be seated on the outdoor patio if you have your kid(s) and/or dog(s) with you, but that’s honestly the best spot to be.
What do you think? Have you been to Black Stallion? Is it now on your list to try? Let me know in the comments!
Please subscribe to our email list, follow us on our social media – I’m going to start featuring a few wineries every month on the blog, so stick around! Drop a comment if there’s a specific winery you’re curious about – if it’s in the Napa Valley, the chances are high I’ve been there! (I’m still expanding my Sonoma winery repertoire).
Cheers!
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