California Wines celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Judgment of Paris and its Golden State of Mind

June 23, 2026

Kuala Lumpur] — June 2026 — This year, California Wine Institute (CWI) is delighted to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the 1976 Judgment of Paris - the tasting that changed wine forever. To honor the 50-year legacy and to celebrate California wines, a series of events will take place in Hong Kong, Shanghai, Beijing, Taipei, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, and Macau.

In 1976, British wine merchant Steven Spurrier organized a blind tasting in Paris with results that shocked the wine establishment: California Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon outscored highly regarded French wines, proving that excellence comes not only from heritage but from bold vision and open minds. The results astonished the wine world as California wines triumphed, establishing California as a world-class wine producing region. The spirit of the historic event continues to define and shape modern day California - pioneering, innovative, diverse, and bold, which is exemplary of California wines’ ‘Golden State of Mind’.

“2026 is a landmark year for California wines for us,” says Christopher Beros, Director for Greater China & Southeast Asia. "The 50th anniversary of the Judgment of Paris isn't just about celebrating a historic victory—it's about showcasing how California has continued to lead the world in quality, innovation, and sustainability. The values and spirits that shaped the Judgment of Paris and define California wines continue to drive California winemakers today, from pioneering new winemaking techniques to being at the forefront of sustainability efforts.”

The event was held at the Pool House @ Grand Hyatt in Kuala Lumpur on June 19, 2026, with over 60 trade and media quests attending. The celebratory event featured a special screening of a short documentary on the Judgment of Paris, and showcased wines from wineries that participated in the Judgment of Paris 50 years ago. In addition, a curation of wines that are representative of modern day California. Selected trade and media guests had the opportunity to taste wines from the wineries that were rated with the highest scores in each category at the historic event: Chateau Montelena for Chardonnay, and Stag's Leap Wine Cellars for Cabernet Sauvignon. Wines in the showcase included other iconic grape varieties from California, such as Pinot Noir, and Zinfandel, California’s native grape, and spanned across various wine-growing regions such as Napa Valley, Sonoma Coast, Lodi, and more.