Storia
Foundation
Warren Winiarski founded Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars in Napa Valley, California, in 1970. The estate subsequently became internationally associated with Cabernet Sauvignon.
The 1973 vintage and the Judgment of Paris
The estate produced its S.L.V. 1973 Cabernet Sauvignon three years after its foundation. In 1976, that wine was entered in the blind tasting later known as the “Judgment of Paris.” A panel of nine French tasters compared leading California Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay wines with prominent labels from Bordeaux and Burgundy.
California wine was still widely treated as an interesting novelty in international wine circles, and expectations favored the French entries. The Californian wines nevertheless prevailed, with Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars’ S.L.V. 1973 Cabernet Sauvignon taking first place. The result brought worldwide attention to the estate and challenged established perceptions of California wine.
Antinori involvement and ownership
The Antinori family became involved in the management of Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars in 2007 as a managing partner. In 2023, the family acquired full ownership of the estate, with the stated intention of preserving and continuing its legacy.
Filosofia
Following its acquisition of full ownership in 2023, the Antinori family set out to preserve and continue the legacy established by Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars.