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1 2 THE BEST GI FT IMAGINABLE HOW TO MAKE YOUR SAI L ING DREAMS COME TRUE MEET OUR GOLD MEDAL CAB WHO I S THE KELLY FAMI LY? JOIN THE KELLY V INEYARDS FAMI LY GR I LLED SK I RT STEAK WI TH ASPARAGUS NAPA BEATS THE PANTS OFF FRANCE inside this issue 3
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THE JUDGMENT OF PAR I S When Napa Became King Today, the Napa Valley’s status as one of the world’s best wine-growing regions is a given, but that wasn’t always the case. Less than 50 years ago, California winemakers were considered scrappy upstarts whose bottlings paled in comparison to those made in Europe. One event, the Judgment of Paris, changed that reputation forever.
from Napa — took home the highest honors. In a single tasting, the wine world was turned upside down. The Judgment of Paris laid the groundwork for the Napa Valley to become what it is today. It alerted everyone to the potential of the land to produce wines of the very first order. Though the French media refused to cover the event at the time, the results also benefited France’s wines. It made people question their preconceived notions and reinvigorated their competitive spirit. It’s a lot harder to evolve, after all, when you don’t have any competition pushing you to do so.
In 1976, a British wine merchant organized a tasting competition unlike any other. He put Chardonnays and Cabernets from California alongside their exalted counterparts from Burgundy and Bordeaux, respectively. The event’s group of judges comprised some of the most respected names in the French wine world alongside only a single American. Though the wines were to be tasted blind, nobody expected the American bottles to show well. However, the American wines ended up with the highest scores in both the white and red categories. The 1973 Chateau Montelena Chardonnay and the 1973 Stag’s Leap Cabernet — both hailing
As somebody who makes wine in Napa today, I can’t help but feel a responsibility to the land and the wine producers who’ve come before me. We work on hallowed ground and seek to impart the California sun in every bottle. That’s a big responsibility, but one we’re honored to take on. Go to KellyFamilyVineyards.com to get on our mailing and limited production Allocation list.
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