Stag's Leap Wine Cellars
The Napa winery whose 1973 Cabernet beat top Bordeaux at the 1976 Judgment of Paris, putting California on the world wine map.
About Stag's
Stag's Leap Wine Cellars was founded by Warren Winiarski in 1970 and became one of the most consequential names in American wine when its 1973 Cabernet Sauvignon won first place among ten top French and California reds at the 1976 'Judgment of Paris' blind tasting. That upset over established Bordeaux estates announced California as a world-class wine region and made the winery's hillside Stags Leap District fruit famous. Its flagship CASK 23 and S.L.V. Cabernets remain benchmarks for the district's signature blend of power and elegance. After decades under Winiarski and later a partnership between Ste. Michelle Wine Estates and Antinori, the Italian house Marchesi Antinori bought Ste. Michelle's stake in May 2023 to become sole owner. Producing around 100,000 cases a year, Stag's Leap pairs historical significance with broad availability across several tiers of Napa Cabernet.
Flagship wines
- CASK 23 Cabernet Sauvignon
- S.L.V. Cabernet Sauvignon
- FAY Cabernet Sauvignon
Editorial notes
Top cuvees (CASK 23, S.L.V.) are serious cellar wines; entry tiers offer an accessible way to taste Stags Leap District Cabernet.