The Judgement of Paris 50th Anniversary
On May 24, 1976, a small blind tasting known as the Judgement of Paris changed the course of wine history.
Organized by British wine merchant Steven Spurrier and his American colleague Patricia Gallagher, the tasting was designed to compare a selection of California wines against some of France’s most respected bottles. The reds included California Cabernet Sauvignon alongside classified-growth Bordeaux. The whites included California Chardonnay alongside white Burgundy.
The judges were French. The wines were tasted blind. At the time, the expectation was clear: France would prevail. Instead, California shocked the wine world!
The top red wine was the 1973 Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon, which placed ahead of legendary Bordeaux. The top white wine was the 1973 Château Montelena Chardonnay, which surpassed celebrated white Burgundy.
The results did not diminish France’s greatness. Rather, they expanded the world’s understanding of what fine wine could be and where it could come from.
Before the Judgment of Paris, California wine was still fighting for global recognition. Napa Valley had talent, ambition, and remarkable vineyards, but it did not yet hold the same international prestige as Bordeaux or Burgundy. The 1976 Paris tasting changed that perception almost overnight.
More importantly, it helped open the door for the modern global wine world. It proved that greatness was not limited to one country, one tradition, or one historic region. Terroir, craftsmanship, patience, and vision could produce world-class wine in places the old guard had not yet fully recognized.
Fifty years later, the Judgment of Paris remains one of the most important moments in American wine history. It marked Napa Valley’s arrival on the world stage and helped shape the way collectors, critics, and wine lovers think about California wine today.
A single blind tasting did not create California’s greatness. But it revealed the region to the world. While the original vintages of these wines are some of the rarest in the world to find, the producers are still some of the most prominent in the world, even 50 years later.
Judgement of Paris Wine List
White Wines: California Chardonnay vs. White Burgundy
The California Chardonnays included:
- 1973 Chateau Montelena Chardonnay
- 1974 Chalone Vineyard Chardonnay
- 1973 Spring Mountain Vineyard Chardonnay
- 1972 Freemark Abbey Chardonnay
- 1972 Veedercrest Vineyards Chardonnay
- 1973 David Bruce Winery Chardonnay
The White Burgundys included:
- 1973 Roulot Meursault Charmes
- 1973 Joseph Drouhin Beaune Clos des Mouches
- 1973 Ramonet-Prudhon Bâtard-Montrachet
- 1972 Domaine Leflaive Puligny-Montrachet Les Pucelles
Red Wines: California Cabernet Sauvignon vs. Bordeaux
The California Cabernet Sauvignon included:
- 1973 Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon
- 1971 Ridge Vineyards Monte Bello
- 1970 Heitz Cellars Martha’s Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon
- 1971 Mayacamas Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon
- 1969 Freemark Abbey Cabernet Sauvignon
The Bordeaux Reds included:
- 1970 Château Montrose
- 1972 Clos Du Val Cabernet Sauvignon
- 1971 Château Léoville Las Cases
- 1970 Château Mouton Rothschild
- 1970 Château Haut-Brion