The Tasting That Changed Everything
On 24th May 1976, a small group of elite French wine judges gathered at the InterContinental Hotel in Paris. Organized by British wine merchant Steven Spurrier and his American colleague Patricia Gallagher to mark the American Bicentennial, the event was intended as a friendly, educational comparison. The panel—which included heavyweights like Aubert de Villaine of Domaine de la Romanée-Conti and Christian Vannequé of La Tour d'Argent—fully expected to politely dismiss the upstart bottles from California before enjoying their hallowed Bordeaux and Burgundy. They were entirely confident they could spot the French thoroughbreds a mile off in a blind tasting.
They could not. When the blind scores were tallied, the myth of French invincibility was completely shattered, and Napa Valley was instantly catapulted onto the global fine wine stage.
The White Wine Battle: Château Montelena
The white wine flight pitted six California Chardonnays against four of Burgundy's most prestigious Premier and Grand Cru expressions. To the absolute shock of the panel, the top honor went to the 1973 Château Montelena Chardonnay, crafted by winemaker Miljenko "Mike" Grgich. Not only did it win, but two other California Chardonnays (Chalone and Spring Mountain) also conquered the French legends.
The White Wine Ranking:
- Château Montelena 1973 (California, USA)
- Roulot Meursault-Charmes 1973 (Burgundy, France)
- Chalone Vineyard 1974 (California, USA)
- Spring Mountain Vineyard 1973 (California, USA)
- Maison Joseph Drouhin Beaune Clos des Mouches 1973 (Burgundy, France)
- Freemark Abbey Winery 1972 (California, USA)
- Ramone-Prudhon Bâtard-Montrachet 1973 (Burgundy, France)
- Domaine Leflaive Puligny-Montrachet Les Pucelles 1972 (Burgundy, France)
- Veedercrest Vineyards 1972 (California, USA)
- David Bruce Winery 1973 (California, USA)
The Red Wine Showdown: Stag's Leap
The red wine flight was equally seismic. Six Napa Cabernet Sauvignons went up against four legendary Bordeaux Left Bank giants from the highly regarded 1970 and 1971 vintages. The historic victor was the 1973 Stag's Leap Wine Cellars S.L.V. Cabernet Sauvignon. It outperformed the absolute aristocratic pinnacle of Bordeaux, leaving First Growths like Château Mouton-Rothschild and Château Haut-Brion trailing in its wake.
The Red Wine Ranking:
- Stag's Leap Wine Cellars 1973 (California, USA)
- Château Mouton-Rothschild 1970 (Bordeaux, France)
- Château Montrose 1970 (Bordeaux, France)
- Château Haut-Brion 1970 (Bordeaux, France)
- Ridge Vineyards Monte Bello 1971 (California, USA)
- Château Léoville Las Cases 1971 (Bordeaux, France)
- Heitz Cellars Martha's Vineyard 1970 (California, USA)
- Clos Du Val Winery 1972 (California, USA)
- Mayacamas Vineyards 1971 (California, USA)
- Freemark Abbey Winery 1969 (California, USA)
The Enduring Legacy
The impact of Steven Spurrier’s tasting completely revolutionised the wine world. It permanently demonstrated that world-class quality is not exclusive to old European geography, but can be achieved anywhere where exceptional terroir matches dedicated talent. It forced the Old World to wake up and inspired the New World to push the boundaries of craft winemaking. Today, the fine wines of Napa Valley are celebrated globally for their structural balance and elegant complexity.
At Hic!, we are incredibly proud to stock the legendary estates that altered history that afternoon, alongside the modern boutique pioneers who continue to build on their legacy. Explore our collection and taste the terroir that rewrote the rules.
Explore our Napa Valley Collection and taste the history for yourself.