Which Stags Leap Won the Paris Tasting?

By Alice Nichols

The Paris Tasting of 1976 was a landmark event in the world of wine. It was a blind tasting held in Paris, where French judges tasted wines from California and France.

The goal of the tasting was to determine which country produced better wines. The judges were shocked when they chose a California wine over French wines in both red and white categories. The wine that won the red category was from Stags Leap Wine Cellars.

But which Stags Leap wine won the Paris Tasting?

There are two wineries in Napa Valley with similar names: Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars and Stags’ Leap Winery. It’s important to note that they are not the same winery, even though their names are often confused with each other.

The winning wine was from Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars, founded by Warren Winiarski in 1970. The winning vintage was the 1973 Cabernet Sauvignon.

This victory put California wines on the map and helped establish Napa Valley as one of the top wine regions in the world. The success of Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars also helped pave the way for other boutique wineries in Napa Valley to gain recognition for their high-quality wines.

So what made this particular wine stand out?

The 1973 Cabernet Sauvignon had a perfect balance of fruit, tannin, and acidity. It had an intense aroma of black currant and cassis with hints of cedar and vanilla. On the palate, it had a smooth texture with well-integrated tannins and a long finish.

It’s worth noting that while this wine put Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars on the map, it wasn’t an overnight success story. Warren Winiarski spent years experimenting with different grape varieties and winemaking techniques before finally producing a wine that could compete with some of France’s best.

In conclusion, the Stags Leap wine that won the Paris Tasting was the 1973 Cabernet Sauvignon from Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars. This victory helped establish California wines as some of the best in the world and put Napa Valley on the map as a top wine region. The success of this wine is a testament to Warren Winiarski’s dedication to producing high-quality wines through years of experimentation and hard work.