Quench at Copia: The Mount "Crushmore" of American Wine

Master Sommelier Andrea Immer Robinson takes her newest podcast series to another level with special guest experts and YOU in the audience!

Introducing Live Monthly Taste and Learn Experiences at Copia

Be a part of the LIVE studio audience in the Napa Valley Vintners Theatre at the CIA at Copia! Master Sommelier Andrea Immer Robinson takes her newest podcast series, Quench at Copia, to another level with special guest experts and YOU in the audience!

This month, Andrea will be taking us through the renowned 1976 Judgment of Paris as part of our 50th Anniversary Celebration, when Napa Valley became a global icon. You'll taste the winning wines from the original competition along with complementary bites and a sample dish from The Grove restaurant.

This is not a standard wine tasting. This is a masterclass in gastronomy.

While Napa offers hundreds of tasting experiences throughout the Valley, it is almost unheard of to have direct, intimate access to talent of this caliber in a single evening. This is your opportunity to bypass the standard tasting room script and learn directly from seasoned hospitality professionals.

Andrea and special guest Steve Matthiasson will discuss and share with the audience:

• Matthiasson Linda Vista Chardonnay
• Trois Noix Muir-Hanna Chardonnay
• Corison Sunbasket Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon
• Stag's Leap Wine Cellars SLV Cabernet Sauvignon
• Robert Mondavi Winery To Kalon Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon

Judgment of Paris 50th Anniversary Celebration at CIA at Copia

The Judgment of Paris was the pivotal moment that shattered the long-held belief that only France could produce world-class wine, placing Napa Valley squarely on the global map. Organized by Steven Spurrier on May 24, 1976, this blind tasting pitted top-tier Bordeaux and Burgundy wines against ambitious, relatively unknown contenders from California. The panel, composed entirely of French judges, unknowingly awarded top honors to a 1973 Chateau Montelena Chardonnay and a 1973 Stag's Leap Wine Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon. This unexpected triumph sent shockwaves through the wine world, proving that terroir outside of Europe could yield wines of exceptional quality, complexity, and longevity.

For Napa Valley, the impact was transformative, shifting the region from a quiet agricultural community to a premier global wine destination. Before 1976, California wines were often dismissed, but the Judgment validated the dedication of Napa’s vintners and the unique potential of its soils. Now, as we approach the golden jubilee of this historic event, the excitement is palpable. The CIA at Copia is thrilled to spearhead the 50th-anniversary celebrations with a spectacular week of events honoring the connection between French tradition and California innovation.

Judgment of Paris Schedule of Events

The week-long festivities at the CIA at Copia will bring the spirit of 1976 to life through a multitude of must-attend offerings including:

• Immersive French-inspired culinary classes such as specially curated Californian vs. French cuisine and our always-sold-out “Inside Julia’s Kitchen”
  
  Learn more and purchase tickets here:
  
  Mon. May 11 and Thurs. May 14 - 9:00 am - 2:00 pm
  Inside Julia's Kitchen: Celebrating French Cuisine Culinary Class
  Tues. May 12 and Fri. May 15 - 9:00 am - 2:00 pm
  Bistro Cusine Culinary Class
  Tues. May 12 9:00 am - 2:00 pm
  Farm to Table Culinary Class
  Thurs. May 14 and Fri. May 15 - 9:00 am - 2:00 pm
  Judgement of Paris - California vs France Culinary Class
  
  
• Movie nights including the highly entertaining, Bottle Shock comedic storyline of the Judgment of Paris
  
  Learn more and purchase tickets here:
  Bottle Shock Movie Screening
  
• Marché aux Puces (French flea market)
  
• Showing of Master Sommelier Andrea Immer Robinson’s Judgment of Paris "The Swirled Cup" documentary and panel discussion with winemakers including some of the wines from the film
  
  Learn more and purchase tickets here:
  The Swirled Cup Documentary, Wine Tasting and Panel Discussion
  
• Grand Tasting featuring over fifty wineries from across both Napa’s seventeen AVAs and throughout California, including Judgment of Paris’ winners, Chateau Montelena and Stag’s Leap, along with Freemark Abbey, Domaine Carneros, Taittinger, St. Supery and many, many, more.
  
  Learn more and purchase tickets here:
  Judgement of Paris Grand Tasting

This week is not just a look back at a historic win; it is a toast to the enduring excellence and collaborative spirit that defines our Valley today.