Inside the Napa winery that shocked the wine world

NAPA, Calif. (KGO) -- There are wineries, and then there are legends. Stag's Leap Wine Cellars, nestled in the rocky heart of Napa Valley, belongs firmly in the second category. As winemaker Marcus Notaro puts it, the estate "not only has this great part of Napa Valley's history, but really is part of world history in terms of American viticulture and winemaking."

That's not hyperbole. In 1976, a blind tasting in Paris, now immortalized as the Judgment of Paris, upended the global wine establishment. French judges unknowingly ranked California wines above the finest Bordeaux and Burgundy. The Cabernet that topped the reds? Stag's Leap Wine Cellars' own SLV, from the 1973 vintage. Estate Director Juan Munoz-Oca describes what the moment meant for the region: "It validated not only Napa as a grape growing region, [it] validated Cabernet as the king of grapes in Napa Valley."

For Notaro, the Judgment was more than a trophy; it was a turning point for an entire generation of growers. "That was the moment," he says. "It was an inspirational moment that, yes, we can grow world-class Chardonnay and world-class Cabernet Sauvignon in this valley. It gave folks confidence. It gave them direction as to where our area could be."

Today, those storied vines still anchor the winery's two estate vineyards: the celebrated SLV and Fay, named in honor of pioneering grape grower Nathan Fay, who planted the district's first Cabernet Sauvignon in 1961. The land itself seems to conspire in the wine's favor. Standing among the volcanic soils of the SLV, Notaro describes the alchemy at work: "The soil is red, it's volcanic, it's full of rocks, and it's just a wonderful soil for growing world-class Cabernet."

But tradition here is never static. Stag's Leap recently became the first vineyard in Napa Valley's Stags Leap District to earn regenerative organic certification, a milestone Munoz-Oca traces back to a simple philosophy: "If you take care of the soil, then the soil will take care of the vine." It's a principle, he adds, that feels fitting for a winery whose identity has always been about being first to innovate.

As the winery marks 50 years since the Judgment of Paris, the 2023 vintage, another exceptional year, is poised to hit shelves. Munoz-Oca is eager: "1973 was a perfect vintage, and we were blessed in 2023 with the perfect vintage." Stags Leap also plans on celebrating the 50th anniversary with events throughout the year, including the opening of bottles from the 1973 vintage.

For visitors making the pilgrimage to Napa, Munoz-Oca promises something more personal than a tasting room transaction. "The experience of visiting Stag's Leap Wine Cellars is about feeling at home. We want you to feel like you're part of the place."

For more information, visit https://www.stagsleapwinecellars.com/