1976 Judgement of Paris Revisited

Presented by collectors Mary and Phillip Reisland, the memorable and intimate gathering celebrated one of the most influential tastings in wine history while bringing together two rare worlds—rare wines and rare diseases. Proceeds from the event benefited The Rare Society Foundation, whose mission supports lives of individuals and families affected by rare diseases through education, advocacy, and direct support.

Moderated by Lisa Perrotti-Brown, MW, founder of The Wine Palate, the reenactment welcomed a distinguished group of guests, including Napa Valley legendary vintners Tor Kenward and Violet Grgich, winemaker Sam Kaplan, and Master Sommelier Desmond Echavarrie. Together they revisited history through remarkably preserved bottles representing each of the original Bordeaux and California red wines poured during the 1976 competition.

Among the evening’s favorites were the 1973 Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon, 1972 Clos du Val Cabernet Sauvignon, 1971 Ridge Monte Bello, and 1970 Château Montrose.

As the sun descended over the vineyard, guests gathered beneath the stars for an elegant dinner designed around extraordinary wines from both Napa Valley and Bordeaux, including the 1969 Chappellet Cabernet Sauvignon, 1971 Ridge Eisele Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, 1971 Pétrus, Château Cheval Blanc, and Château Figeac. Throughout the evening, Tor Kenward and Violet Grgich shared personal recollections of Napa Valley’s early years, when fewer than three dozen wineries existed—a remarkable contrast to the internationally acclaimed wine region Napa has become today.

Time’s George M. Taber, who documented the result of the 1976 Judgement of Paris, rewrote the geography of fine wine, lifting Napa Valley from quiet promise into a global consequence, proving that great wine is a matter of place and craft, not pedigree alone.