Blackbird Vineyards was founded in 2003 when Michael Polenske purchased a 10-acre estate in the Oak Knoll District of Napa Valley — formerly a walnut orchard planted almost entirely to Merlot. The inspiration was Pomerol: the seductive, Merlot-based wines of Bordeaux that Polenske had fallen in love with. The name itself is a nod to that grape — "merlot" means "young blackbird" in French patois.

The first vintage was produced from a small lot of grapes that weren't claimed by other winemakers. It went on to be called "the best Merlot nobody has ever heard of." Two decades later, Blackbird has built a cult following around its Bordeaux-inspired blends and is now majority-owned by John and Julia Hinshaw, who purchased a controlling stake in 2019 and have since deepened the estate's roots with the acquisition of The Bird's Nest — a 160-acre property above Pritchard Hill.

Blackbird sources from a diversity of Napa Valley vineyards — Oak Knoll, Atlas Peak, Carneros, Hudson Vineyards, Pritchard Hill — drawing on different elevations and soil types to build complexity in each blend. All farming is certified organic. Grapes are sorted two to three times before fermentation with indigenous yeast, and wines are never fined or filtered before bottling.

Winemaker Aaron Pott trained under John Kongsgaard and Michel Rolland and spent six years in Bordeaux — including stints at Troplong Mondot and La Tour Figeac — before returning to Napa. His approach emphasizes extended maceration for supple tannins, hand punchdowns in open-top fermenters, and aging in 100% French oak. The goal is always wines with expressive aromatics, structure, and genuine aging potential.

John and Julia Hinshaw became majority owners of Blackbird Vineyards in 2019, bringing a long-term vision for the estate and its vineyards. Georgia, a veteran of Newton Vineyard, Domaine Chandon, and Post Parade Wines, joined as General Manager in January 2025. Cellar master and winemaker Shaina Harding — a UC Davis V&E graduate who has worked in Napa since 2008 — oversees day-to-day production with a hands-on, non-interventionist approach. Aaron Pott, named Food & Wine's Winemaker of the Year in 2012, consults on the portfolio and has shaped Blackbird's signature style since 2006.