It was more than just a win. It was a triumph that forever changed the world of wine and the history of Napa Valley.
2026 marks the 50th anniversary of the Judgment of Paris, the blind wine tasting in Paris that pitted a collection of little-known California wines against French icons. At the time, it wasn’t considered much of a competition; the expectation was that the French wines would easily prevail. So, when both a California red and a California white took top honors, it knocked the wine industry off its feet and put Napa Valley on the map.
The 1976 Judgement of Paris(Bella Spurrier)
Seven Napa Valley wineries were chosen to compete in the Judgment of Paris: Chateau Montelena, Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars, Clos du Val, Freemark Abbey, Heitz Cellar, Mayacamas Vineyards, and Spring Mountain Vineyard. To celebrate the golden anniversary, they’re offering special tasting flights, historical tours, culinary events, and more. They’ve joined forces to create a website that serves as a sort of travel guide and one-stop shop for a plethora of activities scheduled over the next year in celebration of the Judgment of Paris.
We’ve put together a cheat sheet of all the wineries involved to help you get a jump on planning. You can thank us later.
Chateau Montelena
This Calistoga winery released its first wine in 1972. Its second release, the 1973 Chateau Montelena Chardonnay, was the white that rose to the top in Paris. (The winemaker, Miljenko “Mike” Grgich, went on to establish Grgich Hills Estate in Rutherford, with Austin Hills, a member of the Hills Bros. Coffee Company family.) Chateau Montelena features a stone estate built in the late 1800s and a Chinese garden, so make some time before or after your tasting to wander the property. // 1429 Tubbs Ln. (Calistoga), montelena.com
Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars
Founded in 1970, it was just six years later when the Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars’ estate 1973 S.L.V. Cabernet Sauvignon soared to the top at the Judgment of Paris. The wine was crafted with fruit from the winery’s first vineyard, fruit from which which is still used in their wines today. // 5766 Silverado Trail (Napa), stagsleapwinecellars.com
Freemark Abbey lays claim to one of Napa's first female winemakers(Courtesy of Freemark Abbey)
Freemark Abbey
Founded in 1886, Freemark Abbey is the only California winery that had both a red and a white wine among the competitors at the 1976 Judgment of Paris. When tasting the Freemark Abbey Chardonnay, one judge was reportedly heard to say, “Ah, back to France.” The winery also lays claim to one of Napa Valley’s first female winemakers. Josephine Tychson cultivated the vineyards and oversaw the construction of the original redwood cellar on the property in the 1880s. Closed during Prohibition, new owners Charles Freeman, Marquand Foster, and Albert “Abbey” Ahern, combined their names to create Freemark Abbey when the winery reopened in 1939. // 3022 St. Helena Hwy N. (St. Helena), freemarkabbey.com
Clos du Val
“We want to achieve the best wine outside of Bordeaux. Go ‘round the world and find it,” Clos du Val founder John Goelet told ninth-generation French winemaker Bernard Portet at the Judgement of Paris. Napa’s Stags Leap District’s inaugural wine, the 1972 Clos du Val Cabernet Sauvignon, was included in the legendary tasting. // 5330 Silverado Trail (Napa), closduval.com
Heitz Cellar
Known for crafting single-vineyard wines, Heitz Cellar’s 1970 Martha’s Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon placed seventh among the red contenders in Paris. The winery made history a decade earlier, however, when it was the first wine in Napa Valley to be labelled with a vineyard designation. In 2018, Heitz Cellar was acquired by Lawrence Wine Estates. // 436 St. Helena Hwy (St. Helena), heitzcellar.com
Spring Mountain Vineyard in St. Helena(Alexander Rubin)
Spring Mountain Vineyard
Located east of St. Helena on the steep slopes of Spring Mountain, the winery’s 1973 Spring Mountain Chardonnay placed fourth in the Judgment of Paris. Its massive 845-acre estate encompasses four vineyard ranches (Miravalle, Chateau Chevalier, La Perla, and Alba) and two-thirds of the Spring Mountain District AVA. // 2805 Spring Mountain Rd. (Saint Helena), springmountainvineyard.com
Mayacamas Vineyards
Located high on the slopes of Mount Veeder, Mayacamas’ stone winery dates to the late 19th century, but an especially noteworthy stretch of its history began to take shape in 1968 when it was purchased by Bob and Eleanor Travers. Bob trained as an apprentice at Heitz Cellar, and his 1971 Mayacamas Cabernet was part of the Judgment of Paris tasting. // 1155 Lokoya Rd. (Napa), mayacamas.com
