Black Stallion Estate Winery in Napa Valley was the first stop in Napa Valley on a cool, crisp overcast morning in October 2021. We visited the former equestrian center after enduring a lengthy Lyft ride from Silicon Valley, and it was worth it!
A gorgeous property in the Oak Knoll district in South Napa, the winery is impressive even from the road. Purchased in 2010 by the Indelicato family, Black Stallion Estate Winery was historically an equestrian center with training, breeding, and event grounds.
The Property Is Gorgeous
The first thing I noticed is about the winery was the symmetry of the landscaping and center itself — some real thought went into the architecture and terraforming as it presents a photogenic plot with clean lines.
This might be an unusual way to talk about a winery, but I appreciate this kind of thing. The indoor public spaces are nicely laid out with a rustic feel; the fireplace inside was a nice touch.
When you walk around, it becomes even more apparent that the design was intentional and it was easy to take great photos, but of course this is a winery, so let’s get into it.
Wines Tasted
We opted for the Red Tasting Option for $45 where we enjoyed:
2018 Barrel Reserve Pinot Noir (Napa)
2017 Syrah (Napa) (The Gold Medal Winner in the 2021 North Coast Wine Challenge)
2017 Malbec (Napa)
2015 Cabernet Sauvignon (Mt. Veeder)
We enjoyed all of our tastings, but the Cabernet came out on top for us due to boasting stronger fruit notes than the more mineral wines. Although, the Syrah also was very nice.
Black Stallion was a great way to start our day in Napa Valley. Enjoying great wine at the source is always a pleasure. The experts were well-informed, and we learned a lot about terrain alters the flavor of wine.
There are a plethora of wineries in Napa, of course, but I can wholeheartedly recommend making a stop during your visit.
Until next time…