About Blackbird Vineyards
Michael Polenske, a former investment banker who had led J.P. Morgan's Private Client Group and served as president and CEO of Chase Manhattan Bank's Western Division, founded Blackbird Vineyards in 2003 after buying a former walnut orchard property from the Trefethen family in Napa's Oak Knoll District.
The roughly 7-acre estate is planted entirely to Merlot, which winemaker Aaron Pott, in charge since 2006, builds into proprietary red blends rather than single-varietal bottlings; every Blackbird red wine includes Merlot. Wines ferment with indigenous yeast and go unfined and unfiltered before bottling, sourced from a mix of valley-floor and hillside vineyards across Napa and Sonoma.
Blackbird's Oak Knoll estate is planted entirely to Merlot, the backbone of every red blend the winery makes.
What Wino Notion Loved
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Founded 2003Michael Polenske, a former Chase Manhattan and J.P. Morgan banking executive, bought a former walnut orchard from the Trefethen family.
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100% Merlot estateThe 7-acre Oak Knoll District vineyard is planted entirely to Merlot.
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Aaron Pott, winemaker since 2006Wines ferment with indigenous yeast and are bottled unfined and unfiltered.
"An Oak Knoll District producer built around a 100%-Merlot estate vineyard, known for Bordeaux-style proprietary blends under winemaker Aaron Pott."
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Featured Wines
RED BLEND
Arise
2022 · Napa Valley
Blackbird's signature Merlot-based proprietary red blend.
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RED BLEND
Illustration
NV · Napa Valley
A Cabernet Sauvignon-led proprietary blend from Blackbird's portfolio, also offered in large-format bottlings.
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RED BLEND
Paramour
NV · Napa Valley
A limited-production Bordeaux-style blend within Blackbird's current lineup.
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Wine names confirmed via blackbirdvineyards.com and retailer listings (wine.com, wine-searcher.com); specific current vintage pricing not published on the winery's own site as of July 2026.
Tasting Experiences
Visit Website →A Bespoke Tasting Journey
A personalized tasting through Blackbird's limited-production and library wines at the Blackbird Lab in Napa, with discussion of blending and vintage.
By appointment
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