Winery debuts its limited-edition, inaugural sparkling wine and brandy collection
June 1, 2026 (Calistoga, CA) — In celebration of the 50th anniversary of the 1976 Judgment of Paris, an event that permanently altered the global perception of American wine, Chateau Montelena announces the release of two limited-production offerings: the 2023 Blanc de Blanc and Brandy Release #01. Together, these releases mark Montelena’s inaugural sparkling wine and a debut spirit, each paying homage the legacy of the triumphant 1973 vintage from the Judgment of Paris.
The 2023 Blanc de Blanc is crafted entirely from Chardonnay sourced from the John Muir Hanna Vineyard in Napa Valley, one of the three original sites that contributed to the triumphant 1973 Chardonnay. Since 1972, fruit from John Muir Hanna has remained exclusively dedicated to Montelena through a longstanding family partnership that continues today. Produced in limited quantities, the Blanc de Blanc is both a tribute to that history and an extension of Montelena’s Chardonnay program, built to evolve over time. While typically reserved for members, a small allocation will be made available to the public in celebration of Independence Day weekend on July 3rd – July 5th until supplies last. This wine will retail $125 for members and $150 for non-members.
Complementing the Blanc de Blanc is the Brandy Release #01. Distilled from Chardonnay sourced across all three original vineyards that comprised the 1973 vintage including the John Muir Hanna, Belle Terre, and Bacigalupi vineyards, this special-edition brandy reinterprets the legacy of the 1973 vintage through a modern lens. As the first in a series of ten sequential bottlings, each release will reveal a distinct profile shaped by carefully selected cooperage and extended aging. Produced in extremely limited quantities, every bottle is hand-filled and labeled, individually numbered and signed. As with the Blanc de Blanc, a small allocation will be released to the public on July 3rd – 5th until supplies last and will retail for $75 for members and $95 for non-members.
“The Blanc de Blancs and the brandy both trace back to the same ground that produced the 1973 Chardonnay, said Matthew Crafton, President and Winemaker of Chateau Montelena. They aren’t re-creations of that wine, nothing could be, but they are honest expressions of the same vineyards, approached with the curiosity and discipline that have always defined Montelena.”
As the winery celebrates this golden anniversary, these two releases reflect both the legacy of a historic moment and the discipline required to sustain it. They are not attempts to revisit the past, but to continue a standard, one defined by a commitment to place, precision in the cellar and the belief that great wines are built to endure. In that sense, the milestone is less a conclusion than a continuation.
About Chateau Montelena
Chateau Montelena has a celebrated history, most widely known for winning the “Judgment of Paris” in 1976, a legacy responsible for reshaping the global perception of fine wine and firmly establishing America’s place on the world stage. Today, Chateau Montelena stands as a quality icon, consistently producing some of the finest and most sought-after wines in the country. Bo Barrett stands as CEO and Matthew Crafton serves as President and Winemaker. With over fifty years of Barrett ownership, the winery has cultivated a profound understanding of the Montelena Estate, crafting age-worthy wines that express one of Napa Valley’s most distinctive growing sites while revealing the special and unique characteristics of every vintage.
