1976 Blind Taste Test
The famous 1976 Blind Taste Test is widely regarded as a breakthrough moment for California Wine Country.
The Role of the 1976 Blind Taste Test in California’s Wine History
A tasting panel of 8 French men and 1 French woman was assembled from the upper stratas of Gallic vinous society. Six California Cabernet Sauvignons were pitted against four of the top red wines from Bordeaux and six California Chardonnays competed against four highly regarded whites from Burgundy in the 1976 blind test taste.
The tasters included 1 sommelier, 2 owners of 3 star French restaurants, 2 wine scientists, 2 wine journalists and 2 chateau owners. Steven Spurrier, the director of L’U-cademie du Vin, hosted the 1976 blind taste test. Spurrier also owned a well-known wine shop in Paris called Cave de Madeleine.
The notes and remarks of the judges showed an inherent belief in France’s superiority. After tasting the 1973 Batard Montrachet, one judge remarked, “That is definitely California. It has no nose.” Another said, “Ah, back to France!” after tasting a Napa Chardonnay.
The end results, as one witness put it, was a “shot heard round the world.” The 1973 Stags Leap Wine Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon won the red category. The 1973 Chateau Montelena from Calistoga was voted the best white.
Needless to say, the French judges were speechless after the points were tallied and the labels were revealed. The following is a summary of the results of the 1976 blind taste test, with the points each wine received in parentheses:
Reds
- 1) Stags Leap Wine Cellars 1973, Napa Valley (127.5)
- 2) Chateau Mouton-Rothschild 1970 (126)
- 3) Chateau Haut-Brion 1970 (122)
- 4) Chateau Montrose 1970 (122)
- 5) Ridge “Mountain Range” 1971, Santa Cruz Mountains (105.5)
- 6) Chateau Leoville-Las-Casas 1971 (97)
- 7) Mayacamas Vineyards, Napa Valley (89.5)
- 8) Clos Du Val 1972, Napa Valley (87.5)
- 9) Heitz Cellars “Martha’s Vineyard” 1970, Napa Valley (84.5)
- 10) Freemark Abbey 1967, Napa Valley (78)
Whites
- 1) Chateau Montelena 1973, Napa Valley (132)
- 2) Meuralt-Charmes 1973 (126.5)
- 3) Chalone Vineyard 1974, Monterey (121)
- 4) Spring Mountain 1973, Napa Valley (104)
- 5) Beaune Clos des Mouches 1973 (101)
- 6) Freemark Abbey 1972, Napa Valley (100)
- 7) Batard-Montrachet 1973 (94)
- 8) Puligny-Montrachet 1972 (89)
- 9) Veedercrest 1972, Napa Valley (88)
- 10) David Bruce 1973, Santa Cruz Mountains (42)
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