Chateau Montelena sits at the northern tip of Napa Valley in Calistoga, beneath the slopes of Mount Saint Helena. The winery dates to 1882, but its place in history was secured on May 24, 1976, when its Chardonnay finished first in a blind tasting against the top white Burgundies in the world.

History and the Judgment of Paris

Alfred L. Tubbs built the original stone winery in 1882, modeling it after the chateaux of Bordeaux and naming it for the volcanic peak above it. The property changed hands several times before Jim Barrett purchased it in 1972 in disrepair and began restoring it. Winemaker Mike Grgich joined Barrett and together they made the 1973 Chardonnay that would define a generation.

The 1976 Judgment of Paris was organized by British wine merchant Steven Spurrier and meant to showcase California wines against top French producers. The results stunned everyone: Chateau Montelena’s Chardonnay finished first among the whites, besting Meursault and Puligny-Montrachet from legendary Burgundy domaines. Time magazine covered it. The film Bottle Shock was made about it. It remains the defining moment in American wine history.

The 1976 Judgment of Paris was organized by British wine merchant Steven Spurrier. Nine French judges tasted blind. Chateau Montelena came first. The result shook the wine world and put California on the global map permanently.

Calistoga and the northern Napa terroir

Calistoga sits at the northern end of the Napa Valley floor, warmer than the southern reaches near San Pablo Bay. The volcanic soils around the town come from ancient eruptions of nearby peaks. Daytime heat is intense but evenings cool significantly as cold air drains down from the mountains.

Chateau Montelena’s estate encompasses more than 100 acres, including the estate Cabernet blocks that produce the Estate Cab and the Chardonnay vineyards. The winery also draws from cooler sites in the Napa Valley and Alexander Valley to blend its estate-focused wines.

The wines of Chateau Montelena

The Estate Cabernet Sauvignon is the flagship today. Made from estate-grown fruit in Calistoga, it is a structured, age-worthy Napa Cab that routinely receives critical scores in the mid to high 90s. It typically needs five to eight years to open and can age for twenty or more.

The Chardonnay that won Paris remains in production, made in a restrained Burgundian style with minimal oak influence and a focus on minerality and freshness. The winery also produces a Zinfandel and a Riesling, both estate-grown. The Riesling is a nod to the original 1882 planting priorities of Alfred Tubbs.

What to pour with Chateau Montelena wines

The Estate Cabernet Sauvignon pairs with the same foods as any structured Napa Cab: red meats with enough fat and protein to soften the tannins. Rack of lamb, a bone-in ribeye, or a slow-braised short rib all work beautifully. The tannins bind to the protein in the meat and release their grip on your palate, letting the cassis and cedar of the wine come forward.

The Chardonnay is more food-flexible than most California whites because it is restrained in oak and retains bright acidity. Roasted chicken, grilled halibut with a light butter sauce, lobster, or a rich fish chowder all match its weight and complement its stone-fruit and mineral character. Avoid very spicy food, which will fight the wine’s delicate texture.

Chateau Montelena: common questions