Chateau Montelena Collection

About

Nestled against the base of Mount Saint Helena in the northern reaches of Napa Valley, Chateau Montelena stands as a Gothic Revival monument to resilience and excellence. While its stone walls and tranquil Jade Lake suggest a timeless European elegance, the winery’s history is defined by a quintessentially American spirit of disruption. As we approach the 50th anniversary of the 1976 Judgment of Paris , Chateau Montelena remains not just a premier wine producer, but a symbol of the moment California wine moved from the periphery to the center of the global stage. A Vision Resurrected The estate was originally founded in 1882 by Alfred Tubbs, but like many Napa pioneers, the property fell into a long slumber during Prohibition. It wasn't until 1972, when Jim Barrett took the reins, that the "modern" era of Montelena began. Barrett’s goal was ambitious yet clear: to create a world-class wine that could stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the finest French estates. To achieve this, he assembled a legendary team, including winemaker Mike Grgich. While the estate would eventually become famous for its Cabernet Sauvignon, it was a 1973 Chardonnay—crafted with fruit sourced from both the estate and independent growers—that would change history forever. The Judgment of Paris: The Shot Heard ‘Round the World’ In May 1976, British wine merchant Steven Spurrier organized a blind tasting in Paris to celebrate the American Bicentennial. He pitted the top wines of Burgundy and Bordeaux against upstart California labels. At the time, the consensus among critics was that American wine was "pleasant" at best and "industrial" at worst. No one, including the French judges, expected the California entries to compete seriously. When the scores were tallied, the world of wine was irrevocably fractured. To the shock of the esteemed panel, the 1973 Chateau Montelena Chardonnay was ranked as the finest white wine in the world, beating out prestigious French names like Meursault-Charmes and Beau