Bennett Lane Winery is one of the most northerly located wineries in Napa Valley; this slice of Napa is much less visited than the southern part of the valley. Fewer tourists equate to less traffic and crowds in tasting rooms. The winery is located about 3 miles north of Calistoga in the cradle of the Napa Valley where the eastern Vaca mountains come … [Read more...]

Beringer Vineyards is one of Napa Valley's most historic wineries; the physical winery was built in 1877 in St. Helena, two years after Jacob and his older brother Frederick (also known as Fritz, died 1902) Beringer purchased property in this part of the Napa Valley from William & Marie Daegener. According to a March 2nd article in the St. Helena Star, the … [Read more...]

Blackbird Vineyards was originally located in the heart of the Oak Knoll District in the southern part of Napa Valley and the property was purchased by Michael Polenske in 2003 from the Trefethen family, proprietors of nearby Trefethen Vineyards. The site used to be a walnut orchard but is now entirely planted to Merlot. When we think of this variety, we … [Read more...]

Black Cat Vineyard was founded by Tracey Reichow in 1996; she died in late 2023 after a two year battle with cancer in 1996. Her first commercial vintage was in 2004. Tracey's husband Rick and her daughter Samantha are still both involved in the brand. Prior to her career in wine, she was one of the first women to work the floor of the New York Stock … [Read more...]

Black Stallion Winery began virtually - meaning they did not own a physical winery or property (their first release dates from 2002). Their hospitality center opened to the public in May 2007. The 38-acre property is located off of the southern part of Silverado Trail in the Oak Knoll Appellation. We visited several times during the construction as well … [Read more...]

Bouchaine Vineyards (not to be confused with Bouchon Winery in Healdsburg in neighboring Sonoma County) is the oldest continually operating winery in the Carneros District and one of the southernmost wineries in Napa Valley. Vines and fruit trees were first planted in the late 1890s by a man named Boon Fly (a restaurant in his namesake operates at the nearby … [Read more...]

Bounty Hunter is a bistro with a wine tasting bar located on the west side of the Napa River just down the street from the Napa Town Center shopping area. Parking in front is 24 minutes from 8 to 5, Sundays excepted, but there is side street parking and nearby parking garages. The "bounty hunter" was founder Mark Pope. Mark began this wine bar and shop … [Read more...]

Boyd Family Vineyards (never to be confused with the winery/vineyard of the same exact name down in Argentina) is located in the heart of the Oak Knoll district just north of the town of Napa and was founded by Stan and Joan Boyd (with their first vintage from 2000). Conveniently using their last name for their wine, Stan likes to joke that Boyd also stands … [Read more...]