"The Chardonnay that stunned the world...Chateau Montelena"
If you have ever seen the movie "Bottle Shock" you will know what I am talking about...sad part of the movie is that much of it is Hollywood fiction. Fact...Chateau Montelena did stun the world. Fact...Chateau Montelena did make the number one Chardonnay that beat some of the finest producers from Burgundy in the 1976 Taste of Paris. For more on the real story seek out the "Judgement of Paris" by George M. Taber.
*Cover for the Bottle Shock movie...I did enjoy the movie
*The real story behind the movie...a must read for wine enthusiasts!
Chateau Montelena was first planted in 1882 when Alfred Loving Tubbs planted vines just North of Calistoga at the foot of Mount Saint Helena. With the outset of Prohibition, winemaking ceased and the grapes were sold. Then in 1958 a Chinese electrical engineer, Yort Wing Frank, purchased the estate and built a garden in the style of their homeland.
*Chinese garden on Jade Lake built by Yort Wing Frank
In 1968, Lee and Helen Paschich along with James L. Barrett purchased the property. Barrett replanted the vineyard and installed winemaking equipment in the historic buildings and began producing wine in 1972. Miljenko "Mike" Grgich was hired as the winemaker and the rest is history!
Chateau Montelena is one of the most esteemed Napa producers and should be on every Napa visitors list. As a nod to Mike's wine making prowess he was able to go on to open his own winery after the Taste of Paris (more on this story to come in a future post), but not before turning over the responsibility to his apprentice, Bo Barrett, Jim Barrett's own son. Seek out their wines with confidence...they are delicious and well worth the hefty price tags!
Cheers to all the people who helped create one of finest examples of Napa wines!
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