You have to get an appointment here so don't try and just drop on in. But that makes it so it's an intimate and friendly pour. No rushing or pushing. I know they're supposed to be all about the Zins, but my favorite was there petite syrah '10. Truly special. But I still don't understand the black chicken thing. Yes, I think I was influenced by it subliminally because right after I left, I went out and got a blackened chicken sandwich. (For reelz! And I only just realized now I'd been brainwashed by their crazy chickens.) read more

So here's the deal..this place is going to be one of your favorite wineries. You should definitely go, enjoy the beautiful outdoor porch, the gorgeous view of the mountains and vines, and hear the historical stories of the place, and drink some amazing wine. My husband and I started our Nappa journey here with a tasting with Tom (who's fantastic, by the way). We stayed for a couple of hours, learned a bunch about enjoying wine, and left with quite a few bottles and an awesome wine carrier to ship all our goodies home with. Not only was Tom a treasure, but he also made reservations for us at our next winery (along with some lunch recommendations and routes to take). Robert Biale ended up being our favorite spot of the day, despite all the great recommendations. Thanks Tom- you made quite the impression on us! read more

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Great service. Great wines. Great Terrace. I enjoyed trying Zins grown in different AVAs in the valley. The tasting menu took us through 6 wines which were all well balanced, many with notes of dark cherry raspberry and currants. Some were juicy and easy to drink like Black Chicken and some had a nice complexity that made me want to take it home to pair with a meal (Stagecoach) Overall, an excellent experience with knowledgable friendly staff. This is a great spot for a sunny day. read more

Robert Biale Vineyards - Wine Tours Near Me - Napa, California

I've visited twice so far and both times I had a fabulous experience! My favorite winery and wine (Black Chicken Zin!) thus far. They are by appointment only, but that's what makes your group feel extra special. An outdoor patio with tables overlooking their vineyards is the perfect setting for a relaxing hour+ of chatting with your friends and learning about new wines. A great value at $15 per tasting of 5 wines; waived if you purchase a bottle. They even let us walk around their vineyard to sample some of their grapes and take photos. I've never felt rushed and the staff is extremely personable and knowledgable. Ask for Maggie! The winery is a bit hidden and their wine is difficult to come by in the market...so definitely make this one of your Napa stops. But leave an appointment slot open for me! read more

Robert Biale definitely deserves four stars, if only for hiring Peter. He was personable, funny, and quite attentive. First, I think they're "by appointment only" so make sure you call ahead. I spoke to Austin several times thanks to some bad traffic, and he was happy to move the appointment around to 4:00. Biale has an interesting history, which I'm sure the pourer will tell you about, but basically they made liquor in the prohibition era. Hence, the "black chicken" (or maybe the guy was pulling my leg with a detailed fable). The grounds are really nice, and you can choose to have your wine served to you out on their patio. On a sunny day, it's a great way to relax and enjoy the tasting. We ended up with a few bottles of Black Chicken, etc. The wines are fairly expensive (~$40) but quite good. Thinking back, Robert Biale is probably going to be one of my top picks to visit! One minor annoyance was that we were still charged for the tastings (but only 50%) despite having purchased. Normally I would be more upset that a small winery would do that, but we did end up revisiting several of their selections :-) read more

These guys were very nice to let us come to their beautiful vineyard on our last wine limo (WIMO) trip. Now, they don't normally take groups as big as we were (32), but they made an exception for us. They will never make such an exception again. We clearly scared the crap out of these guys. Wandering around their vineyard with glasses of whiskey, climbing over their wine vats, and otherwise making a spectacle of ourselves. But their wine is actually quite tasty, the grounds are beautiful, and their staff courteous and knowledgeable. If you actually want to learn something, make an appointment and check this place out. Otherwise, stick to the bigger wineries read more

Went here on a trip with 5 couples, so were were a sizable group. We arrived and they gave us a private tasting out on the patio. Augusta was our Pourer, and she did a great job. The wines here are great and surpassed only by the beautiful scenery and quirky history of the vineyard. We did a full tasting and I think each couple went home with at least 2 bottles of wine. We particularly enjoyed the White Chicken, which is Sauvingon Blanc and the Black Chicken, a Zinfandel. Sadly, they do not do online ordering yet, so we out-of-staters simply have to wait for another trip to Napa or for them to change their policy. This is a gem that I highly recommend, even though it is off the beaten path. read more

This is probably the friendliest "appointment-only" winery I have ever been to. We got a last-minute appointment and the staff was so nice and literally ended up sitting at our table to resolve a bet, and laughed with us hysterically for quite some time. Very nice people, great family winery, I would come again. read more

My wine tasting debut was made here at the Robert Biale Vineyards and it definitely made a lasting impression! It was a quiet, quaint and gorgeous place with very friendly staff. We were seated in adorable and comfortable rocking chairs facing the vineyard. Our guy was the best! Unfortunately I don't recall his name but I do remember he is a Texas Rangers fan and we had a fun discussion over that. He was knowledgeable, friendly, easy going and comical. Since he knew that it was my first time wine tasting, he explained everything thoroughly and patiently which I very much appreciated. The tasting was a blast and we left with a few bottles of the Black Chicken (of course!). I would love to go back there whenever I return to Napa. P.S The wine tastings are by appointment only. read more

I've visited this place a two times because I love zins and I like their wine. However, the service here is TERRIBLE. The first time, I made reservations for a group of 9 and only 5 of us tasted. They seemed upset that not all of us were drinking. Kind of annoying since I had guests from out of the country that were visiting. My recent trip, when I made reservations for a group of 4, I made sure to tell them only 2 of us would be tasting the reserve library and the lady on the phone was pleasant. However, when I arrived and they found out only 2 of us were tasting even though their note on the system said I did not notify them only 3 tasting. They made a fuss about it and made it clear to my that the person who took my reservation was new and made a mistake. I was told that for all reservations, everyone needs to purchase a tasting. However, they did say they will let me do my 2 tasting since it was their mistake. Our sommelier was not friendly and seemed annoyed we were only buying 2 tastings. She disappeared for a long time even when there was only one other table of 2 tasting at the time. When I told her I was going to purchase 3 bottles, her demeanor was better, but still not the best. It's a shame, but I probably wouldn't come back again, even though the wine is good. Definitely not a wine club I would join. If anything, just buy their wine from a store and avoid their customer service if you can. read more

I hesitate to post this review, because I wish I could keep this a secret! But...the cat's already out of the bag, thanks to critics like Robert Parker. I have been drinking their wines since 1994 and have never had a bottle I didn't like. I have taken friends and business associates there and always received a warm welcome and fantastic service. Really smart people join their secret society (ie: the wine club) and make sure they get a regular supply of most of the great wines they make. And yes....teh young ladies operating the tasting room are always funny and very friendly...A refreshing change from much of the valley these days. read more

OK, disclaimer. I'm not a huge wine guy but I'm diving in the experience because my wife likes it so much. This is her favorite winery in Napa and after a few visits we became wine club members. Zinfandel is not my favorite varietal but its in the top 5 for me. And Biale does it very well. I've heard more than one person attribute Robert and his family for reviving Zinfandel from dominance by Cabernet in the NV. Most of the Zins are mildly sweet to almost Cab-ish. (sorry for the layman's terms) I'm not a fan of Zins that are big, jammy and fruity-sweet so the Biale lineup suits my tastes. Biale's blender, Steve Hall is a master and very down to earth when some blenders of his ability will spend half their time talking down to you. Bob Biale himself is approachable and down to earth and doesn't strike me as the type of guy who wants his wine stored for years. He wants people to discover his wines with good food and company. I mentioned club membership earlier. Membership has its benefits, especially if you are able to visit Napa a couple times a year. Their release parties are a blast, with good food and its probably the only way to taste all Biale has to offer at once. These parties come with membership. That is nice to see because some of these wineries have parties but charge you for it. I will be back, over and over again. read more

My girlfriend and I had reservations yesterday afternoon (missed the turn the first time because of the small sign). But once we found it..... WOW! A beautiful day in a beautiful setting. The Assistant Manager Caitlyn took us to our table outside in the shade and stayed with us pouring wines and chatting. As great as the wines were (Zins) Caitlyn was even better. Such a knowledgeable person who was also very warm and friendly. The best experience of the day!! read more

The overall experience here was great. Quiet and relaxing. I'll agree with a previous review about the service. If you're ok with silent service and want to take notes on your own time, this is the place for you. I saw our server maybe two or three times, but understand she had other tables to attend to and multiple wines to pour for all. This wasn't a one-on-one tasting. Nonetheless, she was nice and professional; short, sweet, and to-the-point. On another note, we also got a last minute reservation through a friend who was taking us out that day. Definitely best to make reservations in advance, as with any other hospitality setting. Being new to the Napa Valley, I wanted a little more verbiage, a little more history. But, the wines were fantastic! I regret not purchasing the Petit Sirah. Only $39/btl. I'll consider going back to buy that bottle next time. read more

Came here for the first time today with my girlfriend, sister and brother in law. We had such a great time. Wines were all amazing. We were made to feel at home. Jen was such a spectacular hostess. Loved it so much I joined the wine club. read more

I am huge fan of Black Chicken Zin and had a great time. Friendly folks, and lots of conversation with others who were wine tasting. Loved the story of prohibition and how Black Chicken came to "be" - will be back on my next trip to Napa. read more

If I was going to have a last glass of wine, with my bottle of pills, well, it might be a Biale zinfandel. Now you are sworn to secrecy, I've admitted something reprehensible. Shh, you didn't read this, forget everything I said. read more

MMMmmm good! Found out about Biale's Black Chicken while having lunch at the French Laundry. It tasted so good that we had to go visit the winery. We had a nice private tasting with friends outside on the porch by a young handsome Texan (i think). I could sit, drink and listen to him all day... read more

Robert Biale Vineyards - Wine Tours Near Me - Napa, California

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Such a great day with Pat Jeffries. This guy went above and beyond to share his experiences growing up in Napa and his expertise with the wine industry.. please go visit him and their team.. We will be back., read more

Robert Biale Vineyards - Us at Robert Biale... fun - Wine Tours Near Me - Napa, California

This is a very small winery and a very intimate setting. It was a perfect wine tasting where we sat outside and there was a perfect mix of Alaina explaining the wines and letting us have time to relax and talk alone. We had a group of 4 people that attended and two of us ended up being a membership. She was extremely helpful in letting us know the membership options, the pricing etc. We also went into the vineyard and were able to try a few of the grapes off the vine. I can't wait to come back. read more

Robert Biale Vineyards - Tasting sheet at Biale - Wine Tours Near Me - Napa, California

Robert Biale produces about 8-10,000 cases a year. They are a small family winery that you have to know about to find it. They specialize in Zinfandel and are also known for their Syrah and Petite Sirah. All their wines were highly structured, rustic, and tough. This is not my style. They are just too big for me. They do have a nice following though. I did enjoy their Petite Sirah and continue to enjoy it at various Petite Sirah events. read more

Biale has some kicka** zins! Big, fruit-forward, chewy and yummy good! That's my story and I'm sticking to it! read more

Robert Biale Vineyards - Wine Tours Near Me - Napa, California

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A very beautiful place to stop and have a tasting. The seats were outside on a patio in the shade. The grapes were only feet away from us. Our tasting guide was very knowledgeable and friendly. They also focus on zinfandel which many other wineries in napa don't do, so that was unique. read more

Black chicken? When I first saw that sign on my way in I immediately thought of the kind of chicken my mom uses to make soup lol. Anyways, our large party was placed in the cellar where our host was very friendly and gave us a very in depth history lesson on the winery and everything. The location is amazing. We came on an overcast day and still loved the surrounding scenery. I'd highly recommend if you are a Zin fan. read more

First of all, we passed the Vineyard twice before we found the entrance. It is well worth the finding. The Cabs, Zin and Petite Syrahs were delicious. The tasting experience was warm and generous. We will be back for more. read more

We had a very nice although not particularly memorable tasting experience at Robert Biale Vineyards. The service and the wines were good and the environment was comfortable. A great option where reservations are not required. Location: We had an outdoor sit-down tasting alongside a vineyard. A stray dog that was wandering around came to visit us. It was relaxing and comfortable. Wines: I had the $35 "Super Tasting" that included two Zindandels, two Syrahs, and two Petite Sirahs. It was fun to taste these wines one after another but there is a lot to be said for a side by side tasting, which they do not do. My favorite wine was the 2007 E.B.A. Syrah, which had an extended barrel aging of 30 months. I bought a bottle. Service: The service was friendly and professional. The lady who poured for us was likable and very knowledgeable about the wines and did a great job of answering our questions. read more

This place is great. The people wer extremely knowledgeable and were able to articulate the winery story very well. It's great hearing where the "Black Chicken" comes from. These wines are by far some of the best in Napa and Sonoma. My absolute favorite was the Black Chicken Zin, The Hill Climber, and the limited release Petite Sirah. So much so we bought a case. This is a very non-commercial winery which allows for much more of a personal experience. It was VERY laid back....a great way to enjoy the tastings and relax. It felt like we were sitting around an outdoor table telling stories over fine wine with friends. Love that. I can't recommend this winery enough. read more

FABULOUS! I went with some friends for a tasting this past Saturday and every single wine was excellent. They really take the time to share their wonderful wines and chat with you about them. A great setting and a place not to miss in Napa. read more

Had a great experience here! Tom was very knowledgeable and friendly and had a ton of local recommendations. The patio is beautiful, and the wine is delicious. Very happy we happened upon this place and looking forward to future visits! read more

Delicious wine! They were willing to do a tasting for two of us very last minute (as in we called them 10 minutes prior to arriving as we had an hour before our next tour). We walked in to our own table with our names on it which was a sweet touch. The person who walked us through our tasting was so calm, easygoing, and informative. It made for a very relaxing and enjoyable tasting. Of course, the wine was incredible and convinced us to join our first ever wine club because we couldn't wait for more. Highly recommended! read more

My wife & I attended the Fall Celebration today at RBV, and were among those who left early, very disappointed at the whole affair. While the staff were gracious and professional, and answered any questions, the wines and eventual food were forgettable. We arrived shortly after the start time and had to wait a while before any food was available. That's fine; there was no shortage of wine being poured. We tasted every wine that was offered while waiting for the food to be prepared, and our tasting notes for every single one repeated the phrases "minimal varietal character," "astringent," "washed out," and various synonyms of "bad." Even the much-ballyhooed "legendary" Aldo's Vineyard zinfandel, which we were assured was rarely poured, was only barely drinkable, being terribly acidic with no zin character at all. At $80 retail, we expected something good. Every other zinfandel, petite syrah, and sangiovese were also laughably overpriced and mediocre at best. All the wines poured were from the 2015 vintage, so maybe the RBV vineyards just didn't fare well that year. Regardless, we won't be back to find out otherwise. Our opinions are based on 26 years of wine tasting experience, and we know very well how properly made wine should taste, regardless of varietal. Please, taste the varietals poured at RBV at other wineries across Napa and Sonoma Counties and judge for yourself. Now the food: the few food offerings were served very sporadically. First, a small plateful of stringy chicken on a skewer with peanut sauce was made available, and was gone in two minutes. No plates were offered, just small napkins. Ten minutes later the first of several small mounds of barbecued gristle masquerading as St. Louis-style ribs appeared. No plates were offered, only small napkins. Guests were force to grab a rib with their fingers, dripping BBQ sauce everywhere. Some time later a small plate of harissa lamb arrived. Did I say no plates were offered, just small napkins? Once in a while a server walked among us with chunks of Mexican style corn on the cob. Not good. Did I say no plates were offered, only small napkins? An unacceptable amount of time lapsed between each BBQ entree. As we walked around the property, which is very beautiful in and of itself, we overheard many guests voicing the same disappointments as ours. Chunks of mushrooms dripping in snail butter were also served. Did I say no plates were offered, only small napkins? We have forgotten what other sides were offered; but did I say no plates were offered, only small napkins? I understand the concept of minimizing waste, but please. I can only assume that the food was catered and lapses in the service thereof was not the fault of RBV, but we left with only regrets, behind several other cars. Sorry. read more

I rarely write reviews but I have to say this place is great. The grounds are beautiful and the staff are knowledgeable. But the wine...is stellar. I had the $30 tasting (fee waived with 3 bottle purchase) and fell in love with the Petite Sirah and the Stagecoach Zinfandel. After my experience, Biale jumped up to the top of my favorite list. read more

My wonderful friends Vivian D and Andrew H. introduced me to Robert Biale last summer. A very intimate place to wine taste and just hang out. I was impressed with their tasting setup. Held at a private table on their patio, the $15 tasting landed us not only 8 tastings of their stock wine, but also history on their popular Zins, blends, and the like; their vines of cabernet sauvignon only few feet away. Personally, I'm a fan of their Sangiovese and Aldo, but they are renowned for their fruit forward Black Chicken. I recently returned and tasted their Monto Rosso and Royal Punisher only to be reminded just how big and jamy some of their wines are. YUM. Take note: -Tastings are by reservations only. -Summer tastings are outdoors and seated while visits in the winter are limited to their small bar inside (summer ones are more fun). -If weather is permissible in the late fall or winter, ask if you can have your tasting outside. -Summer and spring tastings are more extensive. They were completely sold out of their popular Black Chicken and Aldo when I returned in February. -ONE bottle purchase will waive ONE tasting fee and one only. -See if you can sample their cab grapes off the vine. -APRIL 2, 2011 is their release party for their 2009 vintages and all, if not most of their wines for the year will be available to taste! -If you're a Petite Syrah fan like I am, they're members of PS I Love You, an advocacy group for Petite Syrahs I came across at a SF wine festival last year. Check them out here: http://www.psiloveyou.org/ read more

Lovely tasting room under a porch in the vineyard with great view of The mountains and Atlas peak. Wine are well made, balanced from good named vineyards. ( a bit pricey in my opinion, but it is a matter of personal taste. ) The staff is very good, work as a team and were interesting people to talk with. We really enjoyed ourselves. We like their unpretentious , you are visiting a working vineyard feeling. It didn't feel like the typical Napa -Disneyland -tasting -room ride. read more

Good wines, and our host Garret was gracious and explained to us the charming story behind their wines. It was $30 for 4 wines but very little pours - I wish the pours could be a little more generous. read more

I received a bottle of 06 Black Chicken from a friend as a gift. I took it out to dinner with friends and was eager to try it, given the hype. The wine was corked. I drink a lot of wine, I know this happens, it's not their fault per se. I had to order another wine that evening and the sommelier was pretty sad for me. I contacted them that evening via email about the corked wine. The response was a $30 credit. This is a pretty pitiful response to a consumer when one of your wines which retails $50-$60 is corked. Every winemaker I know replaces any corked wines that their consumers report to them. Needless to say, I'll avoid their wines in the future and will advise others to do so as well. read more

So glad our friends sent us a last minute suggestion for another winery to add saying "you have to go to Biale!". Since we were there last week during slower time of year, the team at Biale accommodated our request for an appointment that same morning, and our host, Tom, did a fabulous job giving us the history of the vineyard and a great overview of the many wines they offer. Our tasting started off a great few days of experiences, but we are happy to say we are now member of the "Black Chicken Society" and hope to be for many years to come. Thank you, Tom, and the entire team there at Robert Biale! We will be back as soon as we can plan the next trip from Texas! read more

I'm so happy that we decided to visit Robert Biale while in Napa last weekend. Since we are already very familiar with their wines and they are readily accessible to us we had initially decided not to visit. We only get to wine country occasionally so we usually prefer to limit our stops to those wines that we can't normally get at home. But since we love all of the Biale wines and we were in the neighborhood we decided we would stop. They do require appointments, so be sure and call first, but we were able to get an appt within 2 hours of when we called. It was a gorgeous day so we chose to do our tasting on the back porch. They bring the tasting to you (big plus) and they also have rocking chairs (score 2!) between that and the fabulous wines, I'm not sure how they get people to leave. We tried a number of wines (I don't remember how many) and our pourer was very friendly and knowledgeable. We even saw Bob Biale walking through the vineyards checking the grapes. I've always been a fan of the Black Chicken, but the Petite Syrah that we tried was even better. I highly recommend a stop at Robert Biale when you are in Napa! read more

I had found Biale on an online winery recommendation website, so I added it to my itinerary but made sure to ask the staff at other wineries what they thought about it (and the other places I planned to visit). Many of my other destinations got mixed reviews, but without exception, everyone said this place was a must-visit. They were right. This place specializes in Zinfandel, and for your $20 tasting, you'll taste at least 4 or 5 of them, plus a Syrah. I love full-bodied red wine (cab, zin, syrah, petit verdot) and this was our first and only stop where I loved *all* the wines we sampled - even the 2011s which was not a great crop in the valley. I took four bottles with me and our tasting fees were comped. In addition to drinking some great wine and listening to some cool stories about the winery's past, you'll enjoy your tasting on their outside patio overlooking the vineyard. read more

Excellent Zinfandel. Love the Black Chicken. Very nice setting for tasting on the patio. Not your touristy location.