Experience wine tasting in Murphys.

Black Sheep Winery introduced Rhone varietals to Calaveras County Foothills and have been recognized for our award winning wines, year after year. Serving up a wide variety of white and red wines from Chardonnay, Cinsault, Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and a Port-style dessert wine in our historic little yellow farmhouse on Main Street.

Black Sheep Winery arrived in Murphys with the 1984 harvest. From that first harvest we produced our 1984 Amador Zinfandel. The wine was styled in a big, bold way like nobody else could do. That's what makes us Black Sheep; we're different from the rest of the flock. We feature small batches of limited release wines handcrafted from high quality grapes grown in Calaveras and Amador Counties. We produce about 2,500 cases of wine per year, specializing in Zinfandels and Rhone varietals.

We just finished our 39th harvest, and Black Sheep is still rocking the free world! It all began in late October 1984 and most of the grapes were already picked. We got a call from an Amador County grower with unsold Zinfandel grapes, asking if we wanted them. From that moment we were off and running. The owner of Chispa Cellars generously offered to let us make our wine at his winery. Chispa was the first winery to be licensed and bonded in Calaveras County since Prohibition had ended. That winery was housed in the old Snyder barn at the end of Murphys’ Main Street. We used a small gasoline powered Zambelli crusher and an antique wooden wine press. This press is now on display at the winery. This was our humble beginning: using homeless grapes and borrowed equipment thanks to the kindness of friends. That is how 39 years of Zinfandel domination began!

Black Sheep Winery arrived in Murphys with the 1984 harvest. From that first harvest we produced our 1984 Amador Zinfandel. The wine was styled in a big, bold way like nobody else could do. That's what makes us Black Sheep; we're different from the rest of the flock. We feature small batches of limited release wines handcrafted from high quality grapes grown in Calaveras and Amador Counties. We produce about 2,500 cases of wine per year, specializing in Zinfandels and Rhone varietals.

We just finished our 39th harvest, and Black Sheep is still rocking the free world! It all began in late October 1984 and most of the grapes were already picked. We got a call from an Amador County grower with unsold Zinfandel grapes, asking if we wanted them. From that moment we were off and running. The owner of Chispa Cellars generously offered to let us make our wine at his winery. Chispa was the first winery to be licensed and bonded in Calaveras County since Prohibition had ended. That winery was housed in the old Snyder barn at the end of Murphys’ Main Street. We used a small gasoline powered Zambelli crusher and an antique wooden wine press. This press is now on display at the winery. This was our humble beginning: using homeless grapes and borrowed equipment thanks to the kindness of friends. That is how 39 years of Zinfandel domination began!

Featured Wines

Current Specials

Contact the Tasting Room to make your purchase.

Two Bottle Wine Sale Special (desktop)
Six Bottle Wine Sale Special (desktop)
Two Bottle Wine Sale Special (mobile)
Six Bottle Wine Sale Special (mobile)

Wine Club

For your drinking pleasure we offer the BSW Club.

We invite you to become a Black Sheep Winery Wine Club member and stand out from the flock! Bring a taste of Murphys home with you and some of our award-winning wines. We will send you quarterly shipments of two bottles of our award-winning wines from Black Sheep Winery.

Sign up today! There is no charge to join except you must agree to take the current wine club shipment. Members receive a 20% discount on wine purchases, plus extra bonuses on quarterly shipments, invitations to members only dinners, special events and prerelease tastings. Email newsletters will keep you informed on all the latest happenings here at Black Sheep Winery.

Invitations to exclusive members-only events and the opportunity to purchase limited release wines.

You may cancel in writing at any time after receiving your first 2 shipments.

A signature from someone 21 or older is required to receive shipment by mail. We recommend a business address. Any returned packages are subject to additional shipping charges.

We are able to ship throughout the United States, except the following states: AL, MA, MS, ND, NH, PA and UT. Additional charges apply for shipments going to AK and HI.

We invite you to become a Black Sheep Winery Wine Club member and stand out from the flock! Bring a taste of Murphys home with you and some of our award-winning wines. We will send you quarterly shipments of two bottles of our award-winning wines from Black Sheep Winery.

Sign up today! There is no charge to join except you must agree to take the current wine club shipment. Members receive a 20% discount on wine purchases, plus extra bonuses on quarterly shipments, invitations to members only dinners, special events and prerelease tastings. Email newsletters will keep you informed on all the latest happenings here at Black Sheep Winery.

Invitations to exclusive members-only events and the opportunity to purchase limited release wines.

You may cancel in writing at any time after receiving your first 2 shipments.

A signature from someone 21 or older is required to receive shipment by mail. We recommend a business address. Any returned packages are subject to additional shipping charges.

We are able to ship throughout the United States, except the following states: AL, MA, MS, ND, NH, PA and UT. Additional charges apply for shipments going to AK and HI.

Our Tasting Room Hours

Friday: 11:00 – 5:00
Saturday: 11:00 – 5:00
Sunday: 11:00 – 5:00
Monday: Closed
Tuesday: Closed
Wednesday: Closed
Thursday: Closed

Reservations can be made by visiting our Facebook or the Open Table website.

  • Have been here many times and do like their wines and have a few bottles in my wine cellar. I don't really care for white wines so rarely taste them. There reds are very good. The staff is always very friendly and they are dog friendly also. Black Sheep also can be found on the shelf at grocery stores.

    – Charlie O. Waukon, IA

  • Fun tasting room at one end of Main Street. We started here and made our way down the street over the course of the day. The wine educator was so friendly and nice (but not annoyingly so)! Chardonnay was my favorite from the tasting menu (and I'm not usually a chard gal).

    – Jacie N. San Francisco, CA

  • I absolutely loved Black Sheep Winery and will be coming back for more. Their 2014 Cinsaut is my absolute favorite at the moment and I will drive two hours to go and pick this wine up.

    – Jennifer N. Sacramento, CA

Map of Black Sheep Winery's location

Let Us Help

Get in touch if you’re having problems, need something specific or have questions about of our services. Contact the Tasting Room @ (209) 728-2157 or use the eMail link below.

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