Robert Biale Vineyards: History in a Bottle
Bob Biale, Founder and Vintner
Recently, I needed to work with a physical therapist after a knee surgery. (Getting older isn’t easy on a body.) At that time, I had a great therapist in Calistoga, CA; and we started talking about wine (imagine that). She stated that her preference was Zinfandel. I got excited to share and asked. “Have you ever tried Biale?” She looked at me calmly and said, “Yes, that is my last name. My father is Robert Biale.” Embarrassed, I realized I had never looked at her last name. I quickly recovered and shared about my wine blog, my love of Black Chicken, and how I had written about it on the blog. More importantly, though, I told her how I had shared the wine with many, many friends over the years and bought more.
This “small world” experience encouraged me to put a return visit to Biale on my to-do list.
Robert Biale Vineyards has been in the Napa Valley for many years. Black Chicken is what one would consider the banner wine of Biale. The name stems from a time in the 1940’s when Bob Biale’s father, Aldo, to help support his family, began selling wine in jugs from the vineyards where they lived. The code word for the wine was Black Chicken. To hear Bob himself tell the story, check out this video. To this day, Black Chicken is the flagship wine and brings in many happy patrons. I first enjoyed the wine in 2004 and blogged about it in 2014.
Our recent tasting at the winery took place on the porch with the vineyards in full view. Some, you will note, are head-trained vines, many over 50 years old. One of the interesting aspects of Zinfandel is the historical practice of the vines being head-trained. The vines grow individually and are supported by a single redwood stake. It is still in practice for some Zinfandel vines, since it is thought to be best suited for production of low to moderate quantities of high quality grapes. That is exactly what you can expect from a visit to Biale. A tasting consists of five different wines. It is truly some of the best Zinfandel you will taste. The winery crafts a portfolio of twenty wines that are expertly made and full of enjoyment.
On this visit, we had the distinct pleasure of visiting with Bob Biale himself (thanks to the connection with his lovely daughter). It was definitely a gift to be sitting with the principal of the winery. He is generous and gracious, proud of his daughter, and very dedicated to family. He is giving in the same spirit as the wines that his winery produces.
In our conversation, we discussed some of the current challenges such as increasing heat in some vineyards. One move they have made is to purchase a vineyard further south in the Napa Valley to gain more of the cooling influence of the bay breezes.
Bob Biale has a long relationship with the land and the vineyards. His grandfather set the stage for the winery in Napa, and his father Aldo created the trademark name of Black Chicken. In 1991, Bob, together with his partners Dave Pramuk, Al Perry, and Aldo launched Robert Biale Vineyards on the very site in Oak Knoll where Aldo’s father, Pietro, had the foresight to plant Zinfandel vines in 1937, only four years after the repeal of Prohibition. History is a great part of this winery, and it is there for you to enjoy.
Here is a sampling of reviews from Vinous on the 2018s:
Vinous has not reviewed the 2021s that are being poured, yet here are the Wine Spectator scores:
This is a great place to taste and enjoy the spirit and lushness of Zinfandel. It is there for you.
Enjoy!
