Napa · Napa Valley
Visit Blackbird with a Private Chauffeur
Pomerol-inspired blends of Merlot and Cabernet Franc, tasted in a modern, intimate lab in south Napa, and a suggested six-hour day of tasting around it.
Book a Six-Hour Wine Tour
About the Winery
Blackbird Vineyards has made Bordeaux-style wines in Napa Valley for more than two decades, with Merlot and Cabernet Franc at the heart of every blend in a style inspired by Pomerol. Julia and John Hinshaw, who first met over a glass of wine on a flight in 1998, became the majority owners in 2019, after starting a family label in 2012.
Blackbird is not tied to a single site. It sources from top vineyards across the valley and blends them, so a visit is really about the craft of blending and how each vineyard shows in the glass. Shaina Harding is director of winemaking, and Aaron Pott, who traces his love of wine to a Paris cafe at age nine, consults.
Guests taste at the Blackbird Lab, the winery's new tasting and hospitality space: a modern, intimate room built for conversation, where a member of the team guides you through limited-production and library wines. It is a nice change from a classic tasting bar and an easy first stop if you are staying in Carneros or south Napa. Well-behaved dogs are welcome, and you may bring a picnic for after your tasting.
Tasting Fees
$35 for The Fledgling Flight. $75 for The Blackbird Flight or The Resonance Experience. $125 for The Blackbird Soars and $150 for the seasonal Harvest Experience. Tastings typically last about 60 minutes.
Tasting fees as of September 2026. Wineries set and collect their own fees, and they change from time to time.
At a Glance
Location
831 Latour Court, Suite B1, Napa
AVA
Napa Valley
Visiting
Monday to Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; last tasting at 3:30 p.m. Reservations are required, at least 24 hours ahead, and prepaid.
Known For
Merlot- and Cabernet Franc-led Bordeaux-style blends
Founded
More than two decades ago; owned by Julia and John Hinshaw since 2019
Good to Know
Experiences are 21 and over unless stated otherwise. Parties of 1 to 8 book online; larger groups contact the concierge. Leashed, well-behaved dogs are welcome, and you may bring a picnic to enjoy after your tasting (there is no food service).
A Suggested Six-Hour Day
Pickup at 10:00 a.m. from a nearby hotel such as Carneros Resort and Spa or Stanly Ranch.
10:00 · Pickup at Carneros Resort and Spa or Stanly Ranch
Carneros Resort and Spa is about 10 minutes from the Blackbird Lab, and Stanly Ranch, also in Carneros, about 15. The day below fits a six-hour tour, and extra time can be added by the hour.
10:15 · Blackbird Vineyards
The Blackbird Flight, about an hour ($75), guided through limited-production and library wines. The Fledgling Flight ($35) is a lighter introduction, and The Blackbird Soars ($125) goes deeper.
11:35 · Cuvaison
About 15 minutes away. A Los Carneros winery making cool-climate wines on its Tai Vineyard since 1969, now with waterfront boathouses for its top tasting. The seated Estate Tasting is $60 for about an hour (up to 4 guests); the Winemaker's Tasting with paired cheeses is $85 for 90 minutes. Daily 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. by reservation; all guests 21 and over.
12:55 · Lunch at Bistro Don Giovanni
About 18 minutes away. Lunch at Bistro Don Giovanni on Howard Lane north of Napa, an Italian restaurant among vineyards and olive groves with garden seating, open daily from 11:30 a.m. Prefer a picnic? We can arrange a catered picnic at a winery that allows one; the cost is quoted when you book.
2:10 · HdV Wines
About 8 minutes away. Hyde de Villaine, a winery with Burgundian heritage, pouring private, education-focused tastings inside its winery on Trancas Street. $75 for current releases, from 90 minutes, Monday to Saturday by appointment, paid in advance.
3:40 · Back to your hotel
Back by about 3:55 p.m., within six hours of pickup.
About $170 to $235 per person in tasting fees for the three wineries, paid directly to each winery.
Blackbird and HdV both host Monday to Saturday, so plan this day for those days.
Every tour is custom. This day is a starting point: your chauffeur will shape it around what matters to you, and we plan multi-day tours for guests who want to see more of wine country.
Your Vehicle & Six-Hour Tour Rates
Up to 6 guests
Elite Luxury SUV
Lincoln Navigator or Cadillac Escalade
From $750
Six-hour wine tour, plus 20% gratuity. Additional hours $125 each.
Up to 9 guests
Jet Sprinter or Executive Luxury Van
Captain's chairs and room to spread out
From $1,350
Six-hour wine tour, plus 20% gratuity. Additional hours $225 each.
Larger groups travel in more than one vehicle, and we plan the winery appointments around your group, since many wineries limit groups to 6 to 8 guests. Tasting fees are separate and paid directly to each winery. Every tour starts with six hours; add time by the hour when you book.
Questions
Do I need a reservation at Blackbird?
Yes. Reservations are required and prepaid, at least 24 hours ahead. When you book a tour with us, your chauffeur makes the reservation for you.
How much is a tasting at Blackbird?
$35 per person for The Fledgling Flight, $75 for The Blackbird Flight or The Resonance Experience, $125 for The Blackbird Soars and $150 for the Harvest Experience, as of September 2026.
Where do you taste Blackbird wines?
At the Blackbird Lab, the winery's tasting and hospitality space at 831 Latour Court in Napa. Blackbird sources from vineyards across the valley rather than one estate.
Can I bring my dog or a picnic to Blackbird?
Yes. Well-behaved, leashed dogs are welcome, and you may bring a picnic to enjoy after your tasting.
Who owns Blackbird Vineyards?
Julia and John Hinshaw, who became the majority owners in 2019.
How does booking a tour with Bien Chauffeured work?
Reserve a six-hour tour online, even if your plans are still taking shape. Your chauffeur will email you first to learn what matters to you, then build your itinerary and make the winery appointments. Extra hours can be added.
Reserve Your Tour Now, Plan the Details Later
Your plans don't need to be final to book. Reserve your six-hour tour online, and your chauffeur will email you first to learn what matters to you, then build your itinerary and make the winery appointments. Prefer to talk? Call our concierge at 888-291-2328.
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