Chateau Montelena

Chateau Montelena is one of Napa Valley's defining "old guard" estates, helping to launch the region into global stardom thanks to their surprise success at the 1976 Judgement of Paris. The Chateau is best known for their chardonnay and cabernet sauvignon, crafted from the hillsides of Calistoga. With over 50 years of rich history under its belt, Chateau Montelena is a Napa Valley icon and continues to shine in one of the world's top winemaking regions. 

Chateau Montelena Napa Origins

Chateau Montelena's history dates back to 1882, when Alfred L. Tubbs built Tubbs Winery after purchasing a 253-acre vineyard just north of Calistoga. Tubbs Winery quickly became a success, growing into California's seventh largest producer by 1896. Following the estate's financial and operational struggles during the Prohibition era, Tubbs' grandson, Chapin, reinstated the winery and renamed the company, Chateau Montelena. However, after only 15 years in business, the Chateau shut down and remained vacant until 1958, when York and Jeanie Frank purchased and restored the property.

Then, in 1972, lawyer and businessman Jim Barrett purchased the property and created the first modern vintage of Chateau Montelena that year. It was the 1973 vintage, though, that catapulted Montelena into worldwide fame, as the bottle beat star names from Burgundy and Bordeaux in the 1976 Judgement of Paris. The event, memorialized in the 2008 movie Bottle Shock, transformed Napa Valley into a global phenomenon and challenged the widely accepted notion that France was the world's most superior winemaking region. Nearly five decades after the event, Chateau Montelena is still owned by the Barrett family who honor the estate's tradition with one of Napa's most beautiful chardonnays.

Chateau Montelena Wine

In total, Chateau Montelena produces six labels: an Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Zinfandel, Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, and a second Cabernet Sauvignon crafted from younger vines. The Chateau Montelena Chardonnay is the most famous and celebrated label from the offering, though the Estate Cabernet Sauvignon is the flagship label. Each bottle is expertly crafted by head winemaker Matt Crafton, who first began as an Oenologist in 2008 before being promoted to his current position in 2014. 

Crafton is an intensely meticulous winemaker who oversaw the vineyard's largest replanting over the last 40 years. Drought-tolerant rootstocks were brought in, and the rows were reoriented to better protect the vines from the Napa sun. Ultimately, Crafton follows no template, intuitively working with the terroir. Each of the blends is fermented in stainless steel and barrel aged in tunnels and caves beneath the winery for 22 months. The aging can vary from label to label, as some undergo 16 months of aging in French oak, while others are placed in American oak barrels. 

Chateau Montelena Chardonnay

Since its momentous showing at the 1976 Judgement of Paris, Montelena Chardonnay has laid claim to one of Napa's finest expressions of the grape. The fruit is sourced from parcels in Oak Knoll and Coombsville, aged in 15-25% new French oak barrels, and receives no malolactic fermentation. Each bottle is described as bright and refreshing, a classic representation of Napa Valley chardonnay.

Chateau Montelena Cabernet

Chateau Montelena's Cabernet Sauvignon is the estate's flagship label and has been described as a true reflection of Calistoga. The final blend often contains 10-20% merlot, giving the wine a classic Napa Valley character. The bottles are rich, expansive, and display notes of mixed currants and cherries on the nose.

1973 Chateau Montelena Chardonnay 

The bottle that started the Napa phenomenon — the 1973 Montelena Chardonnay is so historic, it has earned a place in the Smithsonian National Museum of American History. First released in September 1975, the bottle was crafted by winemaker Mike Grgich during a cool and damp year. The growing season allowed the chardonnay vines to be free of mildew, and a very hot end to summer forced the grapes to ripen quickly. Grapes from three different vineyards were used to craft the blend, with 39% allocated from Belle Terre Vineyard in Russian River Valley, 35% from Bacigalupi Vineyard in Oak Knoll, 23% from Hanna Vineyard also in Oak Knoll, and the remaining 3% from Staglin's home in Calistoga.

The blend was complete in December 1974, before making its way to the 1976 Judgement of Paris. At the competition, the chardonnay placed first in the white wines category, ranking higher than esteemed French estates like Drouhin and Leflaive. In 2010, a bottle of the 1973 Chateau Montelena sold for $11,325 at auction, and today, only 10 bottles remain in Montelena's private collection. 

Relish in the History of Chateau Montelena

As one of Napa Valley's most storied estates, a bottle of Chateau Montelena wine is more than just a prestigious bottle; it is a symbol of the origin of one of the world's most renowned winemaking regions. Whether you choose the famed Montelena Chardonnay or the celebrated flagship Montelena Cabernet, every bottle is a sure-fire stunner. Check out our full collection of Chateau Montelena wines and add a bottle to your cellar today.