Judgment of Paris 50th Anniversary

50 Years. One Iconic Tasting.

In 1976, Steven Spurrier, an Englishman running a wine shop and wine school in Paris, organized a tasting of six top California cabernets and chardonnays to celebrate the American Bicentennial. He added four Bordeaux wines and four white Burgundies to act as markers against which to evaluate the Californians. The results were astounding: a California wine won in both the red and white categories, and the 1971 vintage of Ridge Monte Bello came in fifth place. Thirty years later, during the 2006 Judgment of Paris re-enactment, the original vintages were retasted, and the 1971 Monte Bello won by a landslide in the Cabernet category, beating the closest wine by 18 points.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the original tasting, and it has been incredible to witness the elevation of California Cabernet throughout the world.

Learn More About the Historic Tasting

Looking Back

Watch as Head Winemaker and CEO John Olney describes the tasting and its profound impact on RIDGE history over the past five decades.

Monte Bello: The Place & The Wine

Monte Bello is first and foremost a wine of place. That place, high atop the Santa Cruz Mountains, produces a wine unlike any other. The vineyard, located only 15 miles from the Pacific Ocean, is part of the Santa Cruz Mountains AVA, California’s coolest cabernet-producing area.

The vineyard ranges in elevation from 1300′ to 2700′ above sea level and is composed of unique green stone and clay soils layered over decomposing limestone. The combination of elevation, cool climate, and soil produces a wine that is impeccably balanced and destined for long-term aging.

Explore Monte Bello Vineyard

A Remarkably Age-Worthy Cabernet Sauvignon

Monte Bello has an exceptionally long life, with its development, peak, and gradual decline often stretching over 50 years. That said, you don’t have to wait decades to enjoy it. Most vintages are delicious upon release and only grow more complex over the first 10–15 years. For those with the patience and proper cellaring conditions, additional decades will yield extraordinary rewards.

Explore our Vintage Tracker: A vintage-by-vintage guide to track how each bottling of Monte Bello is developing through the years.

Monte Bello Vintage Tracker

Monte Bello "En Primeur" - The Collector Program

Members of our Monte Bello Collector program get first access to new vintages of Monte Bello through our annual Monte Bello Futures offer, which is inspired by a similar practice in Bordeaux known as “en primeur.” In an en primeur offering, wine buyers are offered advanced pricing on top wines from the previous year’s vintage. Become a Monte Bello Collector member to secure access to all of the wines grown and produced at our legendary Monte Bello Estate and join the waiting list for Futures of our renowned flagship wine, Monte Bello.

Become a Collector

Keep up with Judgment of Paris News!

We’ll be spending the year celebrating and reminiscing—visit our tasting rooms, join the club, or connect with us on social to join in the fun. No matter how you participate, we hope you take this opportunity to strengthen your bond with the vines, the wine, and the people here at Ridge Vineyards.

Judgment of Paris News

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