During a reenactment of the famous 1976 Judgment of Paris, California wines continue to place as some of the best in the world. At a 50th Anniversary blind tasting in Nashville this April, Spring Mountain Chardonnay placed third, ranking above several Grand and Premier Cru French Burgundies.
In 1976, California shook the wine world when several Napa Valley wines beat their French counterparts in the Judgment of Paris. This April, almost fifty years after that fateful date, the Nashville Wine Auction held a blind tasting, pitting the same California and French wineries against each other, with updated vintages across nine white wines and 10 red wines. This historic re-enactment was held at the iconic Union Station Hotel in Nashville and moderated by wine legend Karen MacNeil.
Forty-two guests – many who are sommeliers and wine professionals – gathered to taste the wines with MacNeil as a guide. They swirled, sniffed, sipped, took notes and compared experiences. They looked for all the signs of a fine wine, including structure, aroma, flavor and balance. They scored accordingly, using the classic 20-point system. After hours of tasting, debating and revisiting wines, the cards were turned in and the results were revealed. California once again earned the highest praise - and Spring Mountain Vineyard 2024 Chardonnay was once again at the top, finishing third after 2024 Chalone’s Estate Chardonnay and 2023 Joseph Drouhin “Clos de Mouches” Beaune 1er Cru.
Not only was it an amazing opportunity to revisit these wines - but also to acknowledge how style, terroir, and philosophy have evolved over five decades. As MacNeil reflected, “There were winners, but there were no losers. All the wines were quite incredible.” For Spring Mountain Vineyard, this confirmed our dedication to crafting Chardonnays with precision, elegance, and age-worthy structure.
Our 2023 Heitz Vineyard Chardonnay has a beautiful balance of richness and restraint, capturing the generosity of California sunshine with the refinement that defines the world’s greatest white wines.
Over the course of the next year, there will be several more opportunities to experience the 50th anniversary of the Judgment of Paris. Some upcoming events include:
* May 11- 17: The Judgement of Paris 50th Anniversary Celebration, Culinary Institute of America in St. Helena, CA
* May 18-20: “Judgment of Paris, 50th and Beyond” at The London Wine Fair in London
* June 13: “A Twilight in Paris” Summer Soirée at Spring Mountain Vineyard in Napa
Come join us at Spring Mountain vineyard for our Judgment of Paris wine tasting experience. Click here to book your visit.
