Judgment of Napa Event at Freemark Abbey Winery
October 5th, 2026
It was America’s Bicentennial year, when British wine merchant Steven Spurrier and his business partner Patricia Gallagher invited nine elite French judges to the InterContinental Hotel for a blind tasting of new California wines versus the best of Burgundy and Bordeaux.
No one expected the surprise upset result. Later dubbed the Judgment of Paris by TIME reporter George Taber, this significant moment firmly established Napa on the international wine map.
Fifty years later on what would have been Spurrier’s 85th birthday, the Judgment of Napa will have a stellar lineup of key individuals who were present in the room where it happened. Both Gallagher and Bella Spurrier, who captured the event in black and white photos, will attend along with members of Taber’s family.
The results of the Judgment of Napa 2026 blind tasting will be released during the VIP ticketed event on October 5 at Freemark Abbey in St. Helena. Tickets HERE: www.judgmentofnapa.com
This once-in-a-lifetime landmark gathering in Napa will assemble global wine experts as judges:
- Jancis Robinson OBE, MW, British wine critic and journalist
- Tor Kenward, iconic Napa winemaker and book author
- Philippe Melka, highly acclaimed international winemaker
- Angelina Mondavi, fourth-generation legacy winemaker
- Paul Hobbs, world-renowned exceptional winemaker
- Jesse Katz, highly respected first-generation winemaker
- Aaron Pott, award-winning native California winemaker
- Chris Carpenter, famed winemaker of distinctive mountain terroir
Their palates and collective blind tasting results commemorate the Paris Tasting’s 50th anniversary and America’s 250th through the lens of the world’s top wines and the artisan excellence they represent.
Serving as emcee for the occasion is world-renowned Master Sommelier Andrea Immer Robinson, one of only 25 female Master Sommeliers worldwide and a three-time James Beard Award recipient.
Judgment of Napa Founder and Cultured Vine Chief Experience Officer Angela Duerr said, “Years ago, I made a promise to Steven Spurrier — that the spirit of the Judgment of Paris would not fade. Today, I am humbled and overjoyed to honor that promise, assembling some of the world’s most iconic wines, winemakers, and wine critics. What a profound privilege to carry this torch forward.”
