What does it take to turn one of the most defining moments in wine history into a brand-new opera?

Fifty years ago, a blind wine tasting in Paris changed the course of Napa Valley's history forever. In celebration of this milestone and its own 20th anniversary, Festival Napa Valley set out to bring this remarkable story to life in an entirely new way, through an opera.

But creating a brand-new production of this scale is no small undertaking, especially when the team had just one year to bring it from concept to opening night, a process that typically takes two to three years. With an ambitious timeline and a remarkable piece of history as their inspiration, acclaimed composer Jake Heggie, librettist Gene Scheer, and an extraordinary team of artists set out to transform a defining moment in wine history into an entirely new theatrical experience.

We went behind the scenes to find out, following the creative journey from an early workshop at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music to final rehearsals and the highly anticipated world premiere at Charles Krug Winery. Click below to watch our exclusive look at the making of The Judgment of Paris!

The Wine Tasting That Changed Everything

On May 24, 1976, a seemingly ordinary wine tasting in Paris would forever change the course of wine history. Organized by British wine merchant Steven Spurrier during the United States' bicentennial year, the tasting offered an opportunity to showcase California's emerging wine industry alongside some of France's most celebrated wines. What began as a relatively modest event would ultimately challenge centuries of winemaking tradition.

At the time, France was widely regarded as the undisputed leader in fine wine. Its prestigious vineyards and centuries-old traditions had established the standard against which wines around the world were measured. California, meanwhile, was still finding its place on the international stage, and few believed its wines could rival those of France. So when a panel of respected French wine experts gathered in Paris to participate in a blind tasting, the expectation was clear: the French wines would prevail. But when the results were revealed, the unexpected had happened.

A 1973 Chardonnay from Napa Valley's Chateau Montelena and a 1973 Cabernet Sauvignon from Stag's Leap Wine Cellars had earned the highest scores in their respective categories, outperforming some of France's most celebrated wines. The results stunned the wine world. Among those present was TIME magazine journalist George M. Taber, whose reporting helped bring the remarkable outcome to an international audience. What had begun as a relatively modest tasting quickly became a defining moment in wine history.

The implications extended far beyond a single competition. The Judgment of Paris challenged long-held assumptions about where exceptional wines could be produced, helped establish Napa Valley as a world-class wine region, and opened the door for winemakers across the globe to be recognized alongside their European counterparts. It was a moment that changed the way the world thought about wine, proving that excellence wasn't limited by geography, tradition, or reputation. And fifty years later, this extraordinary story would inspire an entirely new artistic interpretation, bringing the historic Judgment of Paris from the vineyards to the opera stage.

Bringing History to Life Through Opera

To commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Judgment of Paris and Festival Napa Valley's 20th anniversary, the festival brought together acclaimed composer Jake Heggie and librettist Gene Scheer to create an original opera inspired by this historic event. For Heggie and Scheer, the creative process involved looking beyond the results of the competition to explore the personalities, relationships, and dramatic possibilities behind this extraordinary moment in history.

By introducing Venus and Bacchus, the Roman gods of love and wine, the creators found a way to explore the story through a much larger lens. Bacchus represents tradition and a steadfast belief in the old ways, while Venus embodies possibility, exploration, and the willingness to embrace change. Their opposing perspectives create the foundation for a story that extends far beyond the world of wine.

For Heggie, the significance of the story lies in its universal message of transformation, challenging established beliefs, and discovering that there is room for something new without diminishing what came before. “This whole story about opening up the whole world of wine and the world of culture and the world of ideas outside of the old ways is transformative,” shared Heggie. “I think that's why it needed to be an opera and why it's perfect for an American opera right now. It is about transformation and possibility and that things can change.”

While Heggie explored the story's potential through music, Scheer focused on shaping a narrative that would allow that music to take center stage. “The first task for a librettist is really to figure out what the structure of the piece is, because what you're trying to do is invite music in to tell the story,” explained Scheer. “In an opera, we're there because of the music.”

For Scheer, that creative process also meant immersing himself in the history and traditions of winemaking to honor the legacy behind the Judgment of Paris. “Part of the story is just to honor the legacy of winemaking. I had to learn about that, and I learned from these great experts,” he shared.

But bringing the story to life was far from a solitary creative process. As the production developed, the performers and creative team brought their own interpretations and ideas to the work, helping shape how the story would ultimately unfold onstage. “The stars of the show and the creative team have been great, and they've come up with great ideas and great ways of telling the story and sort of informing it with their own imagination,” Scheer shared.

Together, their collective creativity brought a new perspective to this historic event, celebrating the traditions that shaped Napa Valley while exploring the universal themes of transformation, possibility, and change.

Three Months Until Opening Night

Our journey began at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, where we stepped inside an early workshop to hear some of the opera's music performed publicly for the first time. At this point, the production was still taking shape. The artists were exploring the score, developing their characters, and discovering how the music and storytelling would come together. And with just three months remaining until the world premiere, the clock was ticking.

For Heggie, one of the greatest challenges was the unusually ambitious timeline. While creating an opera of this scale would typically take two to three years, the team had little more than a year to bring The Judgment of Paris from concept to the stage. With the libretto completed in late October 2025, Heggie began composing in November, leaving him approximately six months to write the entire opera. “I had basically to write the whole opera in about six months. Yeah, it was insane. Never done anything like that before. Probably will never deliberately do anything like that ever again,” Heggie recalled with a laugh.

Despite the accelerated schedule, the creative team continued bringing the many elements of the production together, transforming what had initially been an ambitious idea into a fully realized opera. For Festival Napa Valley co-founder Charles Letourneau, reflecting on the achievement at the premiere was a testament to the importance of pursuing ambitious ideas, even when the odds seemed daunting.

“A year ago, this was just a dream, and it seemed impossible for so many reasons. But I think it really proved once and for all that you have to pursue your dreams. You have to go for it. And big things only happen if you try,” Letourneau reflected. “I'm extremely proud of what we've accomplished.”

A World Premiere in Napa Valley

On July 18, 2026, the journey culminated at the historic Charles Krug Winery, where Festival Napa Valley presented the world premiere of The Judgment of Paris. Fifty years after California wines made history in Paris, the story had come full circle, returning to Napa Valley through an entirely new artistic expression. And the location was just as meaningful as the story itself.

Rather than presenting the opera in a traditional theater, Festival Napa Valley brought audiences directly into the heart of wine country, creating an immersive experience where the surrounding vineyards, local wines, and natural beauty of Napa Valley became part of the storytelling. As Sienna Peck explained, the setting offered something that no traditional theater could replicate.

“You could go to a theater anywhere in the world. You can see seats. You can see a stage. But you can't see the scenery of Charles Krug, the beautiful vineyards, the backdrop, and of course the sights and the sounds,” shared Peck. “We always say that the more senses you can activate, the better. So you're out here smelling the vineyard, you're tasting the wine, and you're, of course, seeing the backdrop that is Napa Valley alongside this historic opera.”

For audiences, the experience went beyond watching a performance. It was an opportunity to connect with the history of the Judgment of Paris in the very region it helped transform, surrounded by the sights, tastes, and atmosphere that make Napa Valley so distinctive.

Among those in attendance was Bo Barrett, whose family's Chateau Montelena Chardonnay made history at the 1976 Judgment of Paris. His story was later portrayed by Chris Pine in the film Bottle Shock, introducing a new generation to the remarkable events that helped put Napa Valley on the global map.

We had the opportunity to speak with Barrett at the premiere about what it meant to see this chapter of his family's history reimagined through opera. “Opera is new to me. So as a reflection of how it would be new, like what we did in 1976 at the tasting, it's like something new is always revelatory, and it's really fun,” Barrett shared.

Reflecting on the recognition his family's winery continues to receive fifty years later, he added, “We were just doing our job, just trying to create something special, and then, you know, 50 years later, being recognized for that, it's really very satisfying.”

For the artists and creative team, the premiere marked the culmination of months of collaboration, experimentation, and dedication. And for those whose lives were forever connected to the original Judgment of Paris, it was a celebration of a legacy that continues to inspire new generations.

Celebrating the Past, Inspiring the Future

Fifty years after the Judgment of Paris forever changed the world of wine, it's remarkable to see how its legacy continues to inspire new generations, not only in the vineyards, but through the arts as well. What began as a historic wine tasting half a century ago continues to spark creativity, conversation, and connection through music, wine, and community. And perhaps that's what makes a great story truly timeless. It doesn't remain frozen in history. It continues to evolve, finding new voices to tell it and new audiences to inspire.

And what an extraordinary experience it was to witness this particular story come to life! From stepping inside the early workshops and rehearsals, where the music and characters were still taking shape, to watching the final dress rehearsal with an incredible cast, and ultimately experiencing the world premiere alongside an audience hearing it for the very first time. Seeing how much the production evolved in just three months was a remarkable reminder of the imagination, dedication, and collaboration that goes into bringing a new opera to the stage.

Through The Judgment of Paris, Festival Napa Valley not only celebrated a defining moment in Napa Valley's history, but brought together an extraordinary community of artists to create something entirely new. As the opera begins its journey beyond Napa Valley, we hope audiences around the world experience that same sense of wonder we felt on opening night.