Stag's Leap Wine Cellars
スタッグス・リープ・ワイン・セラーズ
The winery that put Napa Valley on the world map with its 1976 Judgment of Paris victory.
Founded in 1970 by Warren Winiarski, Stag's Leap Wine Cellars is a legendary Napa Valley estate. It gained worldwide fame when its 1973 S.L.V. Cabernet Sauvignon won first place in the historic 1976 Judgment of Paris, defeating top French Bordeaux in a blind tasting by French judges — a result that fundamentally changed the global perception of California wines and was described by Decanter as 'a victory that put California on the winemaking map.' The winery is renowned for elegant, structured, age-worthy Cabernet Sauvignons from its historic S.L.V. and Fay vineyards. Today, it continues to set the standard for excellence in the Stags Leap District, combining traditional winemaking with modern precision to produce wines of remarkable complexity and finesse.
www.stagsleapwinecellars.com/ ↗Cuvées
Who Is This For?
Collectors and enthusiasts who seek historically significant, elegant, and age-worthy Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon at its finest.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the Judgment of Paris and why is Stag's Leap Wine Cellars famous for it?
- The Judgment of Paris was a landmark 1976 blind tasting in which French judges ranked Stag's Leap Wine Cellars' 1973 S.L.V. Cabernet Sauvignon above all French Bordeaux — an event that shocked the wine world and established California as a world-class wine region.
- Is Stag's Leap Wine Cellars the same as Stag's Leap Winery?
- No. They are two distinct, unrelated wineries located in the same Stags Leap District AVA. The apostrophe positions differ — Stag's Leap Wine Cellars uses 'Stag's' while Stag's Leap Winery uses 'Stags'' — making them easy to confuse but legally and commercially separate.
- What is Cask 23 and why is it the flagship wine?
- CASK 23 is the pinnacle expression of Stag's Leap Wine Cellars, first made in 1974 after winemaker Warren Winiarski noticed that one particular cask — number 23 — stood apart from all others that year. It is a selection of the finest barrels from the estate's S.L.V. and Fay vineyards, produced only in exceptional vintages.
- Do their wines pair well with Japanese cuisine?
- Yes. The refined tannins and balanced acidity of their Cabernet Sauvignons pair exceptionally well with high-quality wagyu beef, soy-glazed meat dishes, and rich umami-based Japanese cuisine.
- What is the winery's signature style?
- Stag's Leap Wine Cellars wines are famously described as 'an iron fist in a velvet glove' — powerful structure wrapped in elegance and silky texture, with a hallmark combination of dark fruit, cedar, and refined tannins.