A Tribute in Honor of Steven Spurrier
Judgment
of Napa
2 0 2 6
October 5, 2026
Freemark Abbey · Napa Valley, California
Discover the LegacyFrom Paris, 1976
to Napa, 2026
The Judgment of Paris
British wine merchant Steven Spurrier, encouraged by his American business partner Patricia Gastaud-Gallagher, organized a blind tasting pitting California's finest against the grands crus of France. The world expected France to prevail. California won.
The Judgment of Napa Tribute
On what would have been Steven Spurrier's 85th birthday, we gather at the historic Freemark Abbey to honor his legacy — bringing together the living witnesses of 1976 for the first time on American soil.
The 1976 tasting was, in the words of Time magazine's George Taber — the only journalist present — "the Judgment of Paris." His dispatch changed wine history forever. California's ascendancy was no longer a rumor; it was a documented fact.
Steven Spurrier spent decades championing the wines of the world with equal curiosity and rigor. His passing in 2021 left an irreplaceable void. The Judgment of Napa was founded to carry his spirit forward — and in 2026, on the 50th anniversary of the tasting that changed everything, we mark the occasion with the figures who lived it.
Hosted at Freemark Abbey, celebrating 140 years of Napa winemaking, this is not merely an event. It is a reunion. A reckoning. A celebration.
The Witnesses
of 1976
For the first time together on American soil, we are honored to welcome the living figures whose presence, photographs, and words immortalized the 1976 Judgment of Paris.
The Inspiration
Spurrier's American business partner who conceived of the 1976 tasting to showcase California wines' emerging quality — the visionary behind the idea that changed the wine world.
The Witness
Steven Spurrier's wife, whose impromptu photographs of the event became its only visual record — images that immortalized a moment the world almost didn't see.
The Chronicler
The Time magazine reporter whose column and landmark book Judgment of Paris captured and chronicled the watershed moment.
An Evening
in Good Hands
Host & Founder
Proprietor of Cultured Vine and founder of the Judgment of Napa. Angela has devoted her career to elevating Napa Valley's finest wineries and connecting collectors with the people and stories behind the wines.
EMCEE
One of the most recognized wine communicators in America. A Master Sommelier whose warmth, expertise, and storytelling bring the evening to life with grace and authority.
Tickets &
Experiences
Select a ticket tier to explore what's included. All reservations are made through TOCK.
- VIP Judge's Ticket with Wine Icon seating on Oct 5th
- Exclusive Tasting of 20 Legendary Wines from Around the World
- Access to VIP Lounge with opportunity to revisit wines
- Cultured Vine Concierge Services ($1,800 value)
- Limited Edition Etched Decanter
- Preferred rates at luxury accommodations
- Preferred rates for luxury transportation
- Judge's Ticket to Judgment of Napa on Oct 5th
- Exclusive Tasting of 20 Legendary Wines from Around the World
- Access to Lounge with culinary offerings and specialty wine selections
- Preferred rates at luxury accommodations
- Preferred rates for luxury transportation
- Premier Ticket to Judgment of Napa on Oct 5th
- Access to Lounge with culinary offerings and specialty wine selections
- Preferred rates at luxury accommodations
- Preferred rates for luxury transportation
Stars of
the Show
Twenty of the world's most prestigious wines — spanning Burgundy, Bordeaux, Napa Valley, and beyond — will take center stage at Judgment of Napa. Each bottle is sourced from the finest producers and evaluated with exacting precision: vintage years are deliberately matched across regions to ensure a level playing field, so that terroir and craftsmanship alone determine greatness — mirroring the rigor of the 1976 tasting that changed wine history forever.
The Selection
These legendary wines are sourced by a Master of Wine and a Master Sommelier. This process was agreeable to Steven Spurrier for the Judgment of Napa 2021. A Master of Wine (MW) is the highest-level professional qualification in the wine industry, signifying exceptional expertise in wine science, business, and blind tasting. Awarded by the UK-based Institute of Masters of Wine, it requires a rigorous, multi-year examination process — with fewer than 400 members worldwide. A Master Sommelier (MS) is the highest, most prestigious qualification in the wine and beverage hospitality industry, signifying elite expertise in blind tasting, wine theory, and service. Awarded by the Court of Master Sommeliers (CMS), these professionals are considered global authorities.
Master of Wine
Peter Marks received his MW designation in 1995, becoming the 10th American to pass — and the first American to receive the Madame Bollinger Foundation Award for the highest blind tasting score among MW candidates.
Master Sommelier
Master Sommelier Peter Granoff brings over 40 years in the wine business, a 1991 James Beard Foundation "Sommelier of the Year" award, and co-proprietorship of Ferry Plaza Wine Merchant in San Francisco.