# The Paris Tasting - Grgich Hills Estate

https://grgich.com/the-judgment-of-paris

> A winery-produced historical and promotional piece: useful for factual details about the winery’s account of the 1976 tasting and its commemorative wines, but statements are marketing-oriented and should be attributed to Grgich Hills Estate when cited.

## Summary

The page recounts the 1976 Judgment of Paris blind tasting where the 1973 Chateau Montelena Chardonnay made by Miljenko “Mike” Grgich won top honors, describes the founding of Grgich Hills Estate in 1977, and notes commemorative Chardonnay releases including a 2013 commemorative and the 2023 Paris '76 Chardonnay (sold on the site).

## Audience

general (wine enthusiasts and customers)

## Prompts this page answers

- What happened at the 1976 Judgment of Paris and which California wines won?
- Tell me the role of Mike Grgich in the 1976 Paris Tasting and the founding of Grgich Hills Estate.
- Does Grgich Hills Estate produce a commemorative Paris Tasting Chardonnay?
- When was Grgich Hills Estate founded and who were the founders?

## Purpose

To present the winery’s history surrounding the 1976 Judgment of Paris, celebrate Miljenko “Mike” Grgich’s role and legacy, and promote commemorative Chardonnay releases tied to that history.

## Highlights

- The 1976 Paris Tasting (Judgment of Paris) included California wines alongside top French wines in a blind tasting.
- The 1973 Chateau Montelena Chardonnay, crafted by Miljenko “Mike” Grgich, scored 132 points and won the white-wine tasting.
- The 1973 Stag’s Leap Cabernet Sauvignon (Warren Winiarski) was top-ranked in the red-wine tasting.
- Mike Grgich joined Austin Hills to found Grgich Hills Cellar (later Grgich Hills Estate) on July 4, 1977.
- Grgich Hills released a Paris Tasting Commemorative Chardonnay in 2013 and the 2023 Paris '76 Chardonnay was released as the 50th-anniversary wine.

## How to cite

Grgich Hills Estate — https://grgich.com/the-judgment-of-paris/

## Publisher

**Grgich Hills Estate** — Winery (Grgich Hills Estate) — site content and footer identify Grgich Hills Estate as the publisher.

## Topics

- Judgment of Paris 1976
- Chateau Montelena 1973 Chardonnay
- Miljenko Mike Grgich
- Grgich Hills Estate
- Paris '76 Chardonnay

## Key entities

- **Steven Spurrier** (person): Wine enthusiast who organized the 1976 Paris Tasting.
- **Patricia Gallagher** (person): Wine enthusiast associated with the organization of the 1976 Paris Tasting.
- **Joanne DePuy** (person): Courier who transported California wines to Paris for the tasting.
- **Miljenko "Mike" Grgich** (person): Winemaker of the 1973 Chateau Montelena Chardonnay and co-founder of Grgich Hills Estate.
- **Jim Barrett** (person): Quoted on the page in a telegram about the Paris Tasting result.
- **Warren Winiarski** (person): Winemaker of the 1973 Stag’s Leap Cabernet Sauvignon, top-ranked in the red tasting.
- **Austin Hills** (person): Co-founder with Mike Grgich of Grgich Hills Cellar (later Grgich Hills Estate).
- **Chateau Montelena** (organization): Producer of the 1973 Chardonnay that won the white-wine tasting.
- **Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars** (organization): Producer of the 1973 Stag’s Leap Cabernet Sauvignon that won the red-wine tasting.
- **The Paris Tasting (Judgment of Paris) 1976** (event): Blind tasting held at the InterContinental Hotel in Paris where California wines competed against top French wines.
- **2023 Paris '76 Chardonnay** (product): A commemorative Chardonnay released for the 50th anniversary, listed on the page with price $135.00 for 750mL. — https://grgich.com/product/chardonnay-paris-76-2023-750ml
- **Paris Tasting Commemorative Chardonnay (inaugural 2013)** (product): Commemorative Chardonnay first released in 2013 for Mike Grgich’s 90th birthday; produced annually per the page.
- **Grgich Hills Estate** (organization): The winery that publishes the page and sells the commemorative wines. — https://grgich.com/

## Metadata

- Type: article