About Robert Biale Vineyards
Robert Biale Vineyards traces its roots to 1937, when Pietro Biale planted Zinfandel on his Napa ranch four years after Prohibition's repeal. After Pietro died in a quarry accident in 1942, his teenage son Aldo learned winemaking from an uncle and began quietly selling homemade Zinfandel to neighbors under the code name 'Black Chicken', a nod to the family's white leghorn hens, ordered over the shared party-line phone alongside eggs and produce.
The modern commercial winery was founded in 1991 by Aldo's son Bob Biale together with Aldo, Dave Pramuk, and Al Perry, based at 4038 Big Ranch Road in Napa. The winery specializes in old-vine, heritage Zinfandel and Petite Sirah sourced from historic Napa Valley vineyards, describing itself as 'part farmers, part winemakers, part historic preservation society.'
Named for a Prohibition-era code phrase a teenage Aldo Biale used to sell bootleg Zinfandel over the neighborhood party line.
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Black Chicken origin storyThe winery's flagship Zinfandel is named for the code phrase Aldo Biale used as a teenager to secretly sell homemade wine to neighbors in the 1940s.
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Founded 1991Bob Biale, Aldo Biale, Dave Pramuk, and Al Perry founded the commercial winery, building on the family's 1937 Zinfandel planting.
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Heritage vineyard focusThe winery specializes in old-vine Zinfandel and Petite Sirah from historic Napa Valley sites, with a self-described mission of farming preservation.
""A fourth-generation Napa Zinfandel house built on a literal bootlegging origin story.""
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Featured Wines
ZINFANDEL
Black Chicken
2022 · Napa Valley
The winery's namesake Zinfandel, showing dark plum, tobacco, and dark chocolate notes; rated by Wine Enthusiast and Wine Spectator.
PETITE SIRAH
Royal Punishers
2022 · Napa Valley
Inky, full-bodied Petite Sirah with black and blue fruit and plush tannins.
Prices are third-party retail listings for the 2022 vintages; winery direct pricing may vary.
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Estate Experience
Guided morning tour of farming and vineyard operations with a barrel sample and seated tasting; Friday–Monday by reservation.
$85 per person
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Valley Vista Experience
Seated tasting on the winery's Back Porch overlooking the vineyard, with a focus on family farming heritage.
$50 per person
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