Tag: california chardonnay

For five generations the Wente family has been dedicated to the art of winemaking and the philosophy that the quality of wine originates in the vineyards. The journey began in 1883 when German immigrant and aspiring winemaker, C. H. Wente, moved with his bride Barbara to the Livermore Valley. Since then, through significant contributions made by each generation, Wente Vineyards has thrived and remains the nation’s oldest continuously family-owned and -operated winery.

Forty years ago, on May 24, 1976, Steven Spurrier, a British expatriate operating a wine school and store in Paris, invited a panel of eminent French judges to swirl, sniff, and sip, and when their scores were tallied, the judges were shocked: the 1973 Chateau Montelena Chardonnay, crafted by Miljenko “Mike” Grgich, came out on top.

Time magazine writer George Taber was the only journalist present, and his brief article about The Paris Tasting generated a flood of publicity.