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Warren Winiarski, Machiavellian Winemaker, RIP

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Posted By: Hazymac, 6/11/2024 3:28:55 PM

Sad news of the passing, at age 95, of Warren Winiarski, the founder of one of Napa Valley’s early and legendary wineries, Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars. If you know your Napa lore, you know the famous story of Winiarski’s 1973 Cabernet Sauvignon—the first ever from his new venture—winning the “Judgment of Paris” blind tasting in 1976, which scandalized the French, who couldn’t conceive the possibility that a California wine could compete with their established Bordeaux vintages. Winning the Judgment of Paris put Napa Valley on the world map for wine. You can read a detailed account of Winiarski’s long path to the summit of premier winemaking here.

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Interesting tribute to this great Napa Valley winemaker who had been a student of Leo Strauss at University of Chicago sixty-some years ago.

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Reply 1 - Posted by: Hazymac 6/11/2024 3:40:55 PM (No. 1735539)
The 1976 Judgment of Paris compared some of the best Bordeaux wines with cabernet sauvignons from California. California chardonnays were also tasted alongside top flight white Burgundies, and Chateau Montelena's Napa chardonnay won over the French wines. As Hayward recounts, Winiarski's Stag's Leap cabernet beat out Bordeau first growths Ch. Mouton-Rothschild and Ch. Haut Brion, and second growth Ch. Montrose. I would note that those vintages were good to great in California, and not so great in Bordeaux or the Cote d'Or. Maybe the French picked the wrong vintages to compare. But no doubt, the best properties in California, asame as the best properties in France, can under the best conditions produce perfect or nearly perfect wines. Competition is good for everyone. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judgment_of_Paris_(wine)
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Reply 2 - Posted by: Timber Queen 6/11/2024 6:18:16 PM (No. 1735598)
I usually detour through Napa on the way home from trips to San Francisco, and its a lovely drive. It's nice to know a little more history about the place. This is a very interesting article about a very interesting man. Warren Winiarski really put Napa Valley wines on the map, and is probably responsible for today's summer tourist traffic jams. I laughed at the local joke, “How do you make a small fortune in the wine business? Start with a large fortune.” Old Warren sure turned that cliche on its head!
3 people like this.

Reply 3 - Posted by: MickTurn 6/11/2024 10:12:14 PM (No. 1735669)
I've often wondered, does French Wine have an aftertaste of Snobbery?
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Reply 4 - Posted by: SweetSweetback 6/11/2024 11:53:34 PM (No. 1735684)
I prefer supporting the wonderful wineries of the Temecula Valley, a two hour drive south from LA. Love the conservative vibe of the area. As well as the Cabernet Sauvignon
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Reply 5 - Posted by: garyhope 6/12/2024 3:03:12 AM (No. 1735721)
My dad (God bless him, RIP) was smart enough to buy a case of that Stags Leap Cab when it became available. Over the years we drank it bit by bit. Great times together before he passed. Smart guy. 22 years as an US Army paratrooper. 82nd and 11th Airborne all over the world. "Geronimo"
5 people like this.

Reply 6 - Posted by: kidsmom 6/12/2024 8:18:25 AM (No. 1735814)
For a really wonderful movie about the 1973 Stag's Leap winning the Judgement of Paris, watch the movie "Bottle Shock" starring Alan Rickman and many other now-familiar faces! It is wonderful! I especially like the airport scene when he's trying to get the wine to France in time for the contest. True Story! Fans of Alan Rickman will love it.
2 people like this.

Reply 7 - Posted by: Hazymac 6/12/2024 9:06:59 AM (No. 1735844)
An aside ... Stag's Leap Wine Cellars was Warren Winiarski's, the winery that French judges honored in 1976. There is another excellent producer of cabernet sauvignon from the Stags Leap district of Napa Valley called Stags' Leap Winery. Note the position of the apostrophe. The two wineries are both excellent, but should not be confused. Given my druthers, I'd prefer one of Winiarski's Stag's Leap Wine Cellars Cask 23 bottlings from a really good vintage, which is sure to be a world class wine. Bring your wallet. This is liquid gold.
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