Black Sears

I’m a Zin guy and this Zin (and Cab) is nothing short of amazing! Well worth the drive and Chris is super cool and a great host! Thanks Chris!

Perched high on top of Howell Mt sits one of the best vineyards in the world, Black Sears. Black Sears produces world class Cabernet Sauvignon and Zinfandel. They say it starts on the vine and Black Sears is recognized as one of the top growers on the highly acclaimed AVA Howell Mt. Black Sears wine maker is none other than Thomas Rivers Brown. TRB is the Walter White (Breaking Bad) of wine makers. This bad ass chemist turns out some of the best wine in the world. He was winemaker of the year and has numerous 100 scored wines. Fantastic Fruit + world class winemaker = beautiful and elegant well structured wine. Black Sears is that and more. I recommend scheduling a visit through Chris. Chris will show you the vineyards, have you tour the grounds and then break for a sample of the wine. Make sure you purchase wine as this juice is very hard to come by. I have been lucky enough to visit numerous wineries throughout the U.S. and find Black Sears to be in my top ten of all wineries visited and wine tasted.

We love to find small, boutique wineries in Napa. Back in 2010 hubs was doing his research and came across Black Sears. So up to Howell Mountain we go. This is not a short trek, but it is so worth it. It is a beautiful drive, passing some well known wineries such as Lamborn and Outpost. Black Sears sits at the top of Howell Mountain, overlooking Pope Valley on the other side. They mainly produce Zinfandel and Cabs. Chris greets us along with the family dog Lou. Tasting is by appointment only, but if you are a zin lover it is a must stop. The scenery is breathtaking and well the wines…

Wow, this was a truly intimate visit. We met with Chris, the son-​in-​law of the owners, and Lou, the dog — I don’t think a dog has ever been so excited to see us coming as this sweet pup! It’s a true family business and they spent a lot of time with us. We tasted 3 or 4 amazing red wines at a beautiful large wood table set up a short walk away from the buildings so we could look down and out over the vineyards and take in the vista. We saw the caves and f course, we didn’t leave empty handed! One of our favorite visits of the trip.

Nice views, great wine, but a little pricey. Great host. $ 30 tasting fee not waived. Visited 4÷10÷14

Located on the tippy top of Howell Mountain this ultra small winery was a hidden gem that I had found during my trip research. Tours are by appointment only but we were given a wonderful tour of all the grounds, the caves, and a tasting of three of their reds. (A red blend, Zinfandel and Canernet savauigoun)
The hospitality and company of Chris was wonderful and his wines were definitely not bad! Had not planned on buying any but after the tasting and tour we came away with three.
If you have time time and are looking for great reds, contact this Black Sears. You will not be disappointed! This is one winery where their limited production is evident in the tasting and flavor profile of their wines.

This is a must see vineyard while you are in the area. Chris was our guide and is the owner. This vineyard is up on the top of Howell Mountain, though it is close by and easy to get to. By appointment only.
Not only were we given a tour of the property but also of the awesome and huge cave where all of the wine is stored.
We were able to taste 3 wines at no cost!
We tried a cab/​merlot blend, Cab Sauvignon 100% grape, and a zinfandel, 100%. All are excellent tasting, have smooth finish and the flavor is fabulous.
Very reasonable priced wines, we purchased some zin and cab to enjoy for later.
Enjoy!