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Blackstone Winery

Blackstone Winery Description

Right along Highway 101 is one of the largest commercial winery operations in the state, processing wine for numerous California wineries as well as their own brand. Maintaining their smaller operation in Sonoma County, Blackstone Winery purchased this Gonzales facility in 2002 in order to expand their production to over one million cases. The operation is impressive, with its oversized equipment, modern technology and wide array of wines produced.

The road leading to the tasting room cuts through a grassy park-like setting complete with ducks and geese that will loiter (loudly) and beg for food handouts if you stop. Their home is a large tranquil pond adjacent to the fast-moving highway. The ivy-covered tasting center has a few picnic tables, benches and a couple of palm trees out in front. The arched doorways lead you inside to a large fully stocked gift shop and a big horseshoe-shaped tasting counter. Make sure to explore the back rooms, where a professionally hung art gallery makes its home.

The tasting here can be surprising, due to the fact that a number of their wines are produced in small lots (less than 1,000 cases), and are sold only in the tasting room. Malbec, Zinfandel, Dolcetto, Riesling, Malvasia Bianca, and some of their specialty Pinot Noir, Syrah, Merlot and Port wines are among these winery-only offerings.

The winemaker draws on the diversity of microclimates throughout the state to select the right grapes for their “consumer-friendly” wines. The value-oriented brand has three series of wines they produce: a reserve series, a vineyard-select “Prestige Appellation,” and a “Winemaker’s Select” value line. Fully two-thirds of their production is to Merlot, but they make a full range of California varietal wines as well.