Chateau Montelena is a stone chateau at the northern tip of Napa Valley, framed by Jade Lake and the slopes of Mount Saint Helena. Its 1973 Chardonnay made history in 1976 when it beat France finest white Burgundies at the Judgment of Paris.

A stone chateau and a famous Chardonnay

Alfred Tubbs built the original stone winery in 1882, naming it for nearby Mount Saint Helena, shortened to Montelena. After decades of dormancy, Jim Barrett bought and revived the estate in 1972, with Mike Grgich as winemaker.

Their 1973 Chardonnay won the white wine flight at the 1976 Judgment of Paris, an upset later dramatized in the film Bottle Shock. The Barrett family still owns the estate, with Bo Barrett as CEO and Matt Crafton as winemaker.

A 1973 Napa Chardonnay that beat white Burgundy and made the wine world look west.

Calistoga at the top of the valley

Calistoga is the warmest, northernmost stretch of the Napa Valley floor, where daytime heat and dramatic nighttime cooling off Mount Saint Helena build ripe fruit with firm acidity. Volcanic and alluvial soils give the estate Cabernet its structure.

The chateau grounds include the serene Jade Lake and a Chinese garden, added in the 1960s, a quiet counterpoint to the power of the wines.

The wines

Chardonnay made the estate famous, but the flagship today is the Montelena Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, a powerful, age worthy Calistoga red. The range also includes a Napa Valley Chardonnay, Zinfandel, Riesling, and Sauvignon Blanc. The house style favors structure and longevity over early flash.

What to pour it with

The Estate Cabernet is built for the table, its tannins meeting prime rib, lamb, or aged hard cheese. The Chardonnay, more mineral than buttery, pairs with crab, roast chicken, or a creamy risotto. The off dry Riesling is a natural partner for spiced or Asian dishes, its touch of sweetness balancing the heat.

Chateau Montelena: common questions