dane.snyder, Author at Black Stallion Estate Winery

Our Roots

From the late 1800s until the early 1900s The Silverado Trail was home to cattle and horse ranching. In the 1960s, Richard Tam and Ben Hardister built the Silverado Horseman’s Center covering 32 acres along the southern end of Silverado Trail. The original facility featured an equestrian center with an indoor riding arena, 36 horse stalls, a grandstand for indoor riding events. The property also included an outdoor arena with a grandstand that sat 3,000 people, a half mile race track, recreation buildings, private paddock, riding trails and a stallion breeding station. The center thrived until the 1970s when it was sold to a local land developer. In October 2005, Exclusive Estates Wine Group purchased a portion of the original parcel and began production on a state-of-the-art winery that opened in July 2007. Inspired by the early history of the area and the equestrian center that once thrived on the property, the winery was named Black Stallion Winery. Today, the original building that housed the indoor riding track sits directly behind the tasting room and barrel cellar and is used for the winery’s wine production.

Winegrowing in the Napa Valley

Napa Valley is known as the premier wine growing region of America. Before there were grapes, Napa Valley was home to fruit and nut orchards. By 1909, there were over 500,000 fruit and nut trees established in the Valley, predominantly pears, figs, and walnuts. Early pioneer George C. Yount is said to have planted the first wine grapes in Napa Valley in the late 1800’s. The combination of Mediterranean climate, geography and geology of the Valley were found to be extremely conducive to growing high quality wine grapes. In 1919, with the enactment of Prohibition, vineyards were abandoned and many winemakers found other trades during the next 14 years, with a handful of wineries continuing to operate by producing sacramental wines. With the repeal of Prohibition in 1933, Napa Valley’s wine industry began its renaissance.

The Silverado Trail

The first permanent road referred to as “the old back road” was built from Napa to Calistoga in 1952. Around 1858, silver mining became popular in the hills at the northern end of the Valley. Mr. Patchett, a local landowner, saw an opportunity to sell wine to the miners flocking to the area and began producing wine with the help of a cider press. By 1872, elder miners moved to the southeastern corner of Mt. St. Helena creating Silverado City. Several businesses and a hotel grew up around the claim and the population swelled to 1,500. The silver vein had played-out by 1875 ending the short lived silver rush, and the miners moved on. While on his honeymoon, Robert L. Stevenson found an abandoned shack in Silverado City in 1880, by then a ghost town. Short on cash, he and his bride stayed for 3 weeks. In 1883, he published Silverado Squatters, memoirs of his stay in Silverado City where he calls the old back road The Silverado Trail. In 1921, the old back road was officially named the Silverado Trail.

The Chinese Laborers

After the 1849 discovery of gold in California, the first wave of Chinese immigrants started coming to the Napa Valley. They planted and cultivated the land, as well as constructed the Napa Valley Railroad which operated between Vallejo and Calistoga. The train was instrumental in the transportation of silver and mercury ore mined in the Upper Napa Valley. They also dug by hand some of the Valley’s earliest wine caves. When the railroad was finished in 1869, many Chinese laborers hoped to return to farming, which many of them had done in China. While some of them were able to buy small plots in California, thousands found work for the next decade building the levees.

The Wappo Indians

The Native Americans known as the Wappo were some of the earliest inhabitants of Northern California and are believed to have settled in the Napa Valley beginning around 2000 B.C. The Wappo made flour from acorn and also used roots, bulbs, and grasses in their diet. They also fished and hunted for deer, elk and antelope to survive. Their houses were dome-shared structures, made of grass thatch over bent poles. Known for their basket making skills, the Wappo were a peaceful people with deep respect for their elders and devotion to their children. By 1855, fewer than 500 Wappo remained in the Napa Valley.

Private Group Tasting

Our impressive Barrel Room is the setting for this wine tasting for groups of 9 or more. We’ll curate a selection of 4 limited-release, winery-only wines for your group. Your host will discuss the wines, the history of the winery, our vineyards and wine production, and will walk you into the Barrel Cellar (production activity permitting).

Thursday – Monday, by appointment, 10:00 am – 5:00 pm (last reservation at 3:30 pm)

Price: $75 per person, plus 15% recommended gratuity

Please email concierge@blackstallionwinery.com or call the Tasting Room at 707 227-3250 for availability and to book a reservation. This experience can accommodate groups up to 32 guests.

Group Terrace Tasting

This wine tasting experience for groups of 9 or more is offered on our shaded patio. You’ll taste 4 limited-release, winery-only wines, and your host will discuss the wines, the history of the winery and the property, viticulture and wine production. You’ll also have the opportunity to visit our self-guided Demonstration Vineyard, just a few steps away from the patio.

Thursday – Monday, by appointment, 10:00 am – 5:00 pm (last reservation at 3:30 pm)

Price: $65 per person, plus 15% recommended gratuity

Please email concierge@blackstallionwinery.com or call the Tasting Room at 707 227-3250 for availability and to book a reservation. This experience can accommodate groups up to 32 guests.

Estate Picnic Lunch

Enjoy a curated picnic lunch with a bottle of wine at one of our private outdoor tables surrounded by vineyards, gardens, and water features. Prepared in house by Chef Britny Maureze.

Each picnic basket serves 2 and is packed in an insulated cooler with your choice of grilled Flat Iron Steak, grilled Chicken Breast or grilled Portobello Mushroom (One protein per cooler) marbled potato salad, seasonal grain salad with ingredients sourced from our garden, house focaccia and Chef Britny’s Brownies for dessert (menu subject to change).
As a bonus the Black Stallion Winery insulated cooler we provide is yours to keep!

Pricing: $120 per picnic basket lunch (serves 2) plus any bottles of Black Stallion Winery wine that are selected to enjoy with your picnic.

Upon arrival we will provide a list of Chef recommended wines to enjoy with your picnic.

• Experience allows for two hours
• By reservation only
• For guests 21 and older – this is an adult experience and cannot accommodate children.
• Suitable for groups of 2-8, please be aware that 1 picnic basket serves only 2 people.
• No outside food or drink permitted

Outdoor Seated Wine Tasting

Take in the beauty of the Napa Valley, outdoors on our terrace and enjoy a flight of 4 Black Stallion wines at your reserved table. When you arrive for your appointment, you will select from a menu of curated wine tastings. You can also enhance your experience with a cheese and charcuterie pairing.

Thursday – Monday, 10:00 am – 5:00 pm (last reservation at 3:30 pm) Parties of 1 – 4 may book online. For groups of 5 – 8, please call the tasting room at (707-227-3250) for availability.

Kindly note that reservations are required for this wine tasting. Please allow an hour to fully enjoy the tasting experience.

· Portfolio Tasting (2 White & 2 Red Wines): $45/person/complimentary for BSEW wine club members
· Signature Tasting (4 Red Wines): $65/person/complimentary for BSEW wine club members
· Prestige Tasting (4 of our most Prestigious Red Wines): $85/$70 for BSEW wine club members
· Cheese and Charcuterie Pairing (serves two): $40/$30 for BSEW wine club members

Our Roots

Winegrowing in the Napa Valley

The Silverado Trail

The Chinese Laborers