HISTORY

On May 24, 1976, British wine merchant Steven Spurrier and his American colleague Patricia Gallagher set up a tasting in Paris to celebrate the 200th birthday of the United States. The panel with nine French judges tasted two blind flights of wines (Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon) from Bordeaux, Burgundy and California.

The 1973 Chateau Montelena Chardonnay and 1973 Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon were scored as the top wines over White Burgundies and classified growth Bordeaux, proving that Napa Valley could produce wines with top-tier quality and aging potential.

The Judgment of Paris was reported in Time Magazine by reporter George Taber, the only journalist who attended the tasting. The coverage changed international perceptions of California wines, and the historic tasting established California as a world-class wine producing region and major player in the global wine industry. More coverage followed in the following months such as on the New York Times, and Le Monde.

With the tasting’s results, there was a rush to buy land, plant vineyards, and open wineries in California, especially in Napa Valley. International markets soon expanded and exports soared. The Cabernet Sauvignon acreage in Napa increased significantly in the 80s after the victory, and demand followed for decades. By 1981, Cabernet accounted for 51% of key varieties in Napa.