“A most amazing week! Hugely instructive, as I hadn’t been to Napa in so many years… what a wonderful part of the world. The wine, the people, the food, the hospitality, really all overwhelming in the nicest possible way. It was an unforgettable few days, and my sincerest thanks to everyone involved in such an impressive piece of organization. On behalf of Steven, I was very touched by it all, as he would have been. With warmest wishes and thanks from the Spurrier family”

“The late Steven Spurrier and I decided years ago to celebrate the Bicentennial of the USA with wines from California. It was not an easy task since we were living in Paris but fortunately a friend from Napa guided us to the best California wineries of the day and our French colleagues described the wines at the tasting with grace and accuracy.

The tasting has became known as the Judgment of Paris, but Steven and I hoped that Napa would take a serious wine tasting on beyond our JOP and with the Judgment of Napa, that’s just what happened. Angela and Danelle Duerr of Cultured Vine expressed the incredible vision and determination to extend the scope of wine-tasting around the world.

I witnessed with others an experience that could not be matched, at the magnificent Freemark Abbey in the presence of the owner Mrs. Barbara Banke. Guests at the table discussing wines tasted, friends made, and expressing the refrain: “when can we come again” ? I don’t know but if I have the opportunity, I will be on the plane!”

“Angela and Danelle, I wanted to thank you for organizing the Judgment of Napa. Even if we couldn’t be part of the festivities, it means a lot to my family that you organized the Judgment of Napa and wanted to honor my father. Napa has always been a special place to him. I’m grateful for the opportunities you’ve given us to see his legacy and experience the community in Napa. ”

“It was so touching to do this on what would have been Steven’s 85th birthday and it was great to see Bella, and many old friends, there. The Peters did a great job of choosing interesting wines from around the world for us to taste blind. Danelle and Angela were superb and modest organizers.”

“Monday was a thrilling start to the week, with a blind tasting surrounded by fellow women MW’s, Jancis Robinson MW and Liz Thach MW. We tasted 10 Chardonnays and 10 Cabernet/Cabernet-based wines blind as a nod to the 1976 Judgement of Paris Tasting. This time, though, the wines were from countries beyond the US and France, showing the quality that wine has reached globally since the 1970’s. The wines were brilliantly selected by Peter Marks MW and Peter Granoff MS.

Andrea Robinson MS was a phenomenal Moderator, and the crowd was not full of slouches either with some of the top winemakers from Napa and Sonoma. This was just the type of event that keeps me energized about wine. Thank you Cultured Vine for organizing!”

“It was a true honor to serve as an expert judge for the 2026 Judgment of Napa, hosted by Cultured Vine. Every detail was executed with extraordinary care—from the selection of 20 world-class wines to the stunning setting at Freemark Abbey. The exquisite food, decor, and seamless service made for an unforgettable event. Deeply grateful for such a brilliantly organized program!”

“I’m grateful to Angela Duerr and Danelle Duerr of Cultured Vine for building a stage worthy of the historic tasting it celebrates, and for bringing together a truly world-class panel of judges. This is an incredible honor for the entire Aperture team and for Sonoma County”

“As an invitee, I absolutely loved it. The flow of the event was wonderful with a ballet of people serving the wines at a perfect temperature. I also personally really enjoyed the interviews being very informative and meaningful. The event was not only fun and educational, it was also so important to showcase the quality of the wines produced in California. THANK YOU”

“Angela and Danelle - Congratulations on your excellent event. I could wax for a long time on how well I thought the event went. I wish I could have attended your event before the one I hosted in Paris last June. I would have brought in many of your aspects.

A special thanks to Angela for your efforts to obtain congressional recognition for Patricia, Steven, and George. While I was in school I had two obsessions. The first was the Judgment of Paris, I had read the 50th anniversary book and had done individual research. The second was the history of the wine program at LCBP. When I found the congressional resolution it was like finding the holy grail.

The school still had staff that remembered her and found her email. It turned out we were neighbors. Now we are friends thanks to your work to obtain the resolution. ”

“What a spectacular event from organization to execution! This was a special event that I will not forget, especially as a lover of wine and history. It was really special to have both consumers and the experts tasting together. A great format.”

“The Judgment of Napa 2026 event, produced by Cultured Vine, was a most thoughtfully curated celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Judgement of Paris. Touching tributes to the original figures that created the now famous 1976 event, gave context to just how significant the Paris tasting became for the wine industry. With an expert panel of contemporary judges blind tasting Napa wines against both the old and new world, it seems to prove that wine and terroir have become global. Cheers to a fantastic and memorable event!”

“It was a unique and special event, with a program that was exceptionally thoughtful and well-organized. Joyce and I loved hearing stories about the original Judgment of Paris directly from those who participated 50 years ago—it was truly amazing. We feel incredibly fortunate to have been invited and will remember it fondly.”

“It was a wonderful event and I totally enjoyed the experience as well as the wine train luncheon which was a real treat. Job well done to Danelle and Angela.”

“Thank you so very much for including me in the extraordinary and successful Judgment of Napa. It was a privilege to share space and conversation with so many people who have changed the way we understand (and taste) California wine. Your incredible efforts to document and publicize a more nuanced, complex, and humanized story of the Judgment of Paris is an important contribution to the historical record – and social experience – of wine, both here in California and worldwide.”