It’s been 44 years since The Judgement of Paris, a pivotal event that changed the course of Napa Valley’s wine industry. On that historic day in May of 1976, Napa Valley wines strutted their stuff and beat out several noteworthy French competitors, including legendary first growths Mouton-Rothschild and Haut-Brion.

The competition, blind tasted and scored by French judges in Paris, announced to a Eurocentric wine drinking world that California wines belonged in the company of the world’s best. Since then, Napa Valley wines have grown to be some of the most celebrated and collected wines in the world, providing enjoyment and worth to discerning collectors and to those who simply want a great wine with dinner.

**Napa Vineyard views, Photo: Lisa Denning.**

**photo: @GoldenCoastGrams (Instagram).**

It seems like everyone has their favorite Napa Valley wine, and it’s not only the big and powerful Cabs. Thanks to the region’s warm and sunny climate, and diverse microclimates and soils, many types of red and white grapes thrive here. Napa’s valley floor, as well as its hillsides, are flush with Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Merlot, Zinfandel, Sauvignon Blanc, and many more varieties.

And there are so many different styles for all types of wine drinkers. You may love a light and bright Pinot Noir from the Carneros district, such as one from Bouchaine Vineyards or Starmont Winery, while your neighbor goes crazy over the deep and brooding Cabernets from Rutherford, like those of Inglenook Winery or Cakebread Cellars.

Yet unbeknownst to many wine lovers are some of the most exciting Napa wines, those bearing the Premiere Napa Valley label.

The Rare, Limited-Edition PNV Wines

Crafted by top Napa wineries, these “micro-lot” wines (less than 240 bottles of each are produced) are made one time only — winemakers are free to throw traditions aside and make one-of-a-kind wines from some of their top vineyards. “Everybody should own a PNV wine,” says winemaker Renee Ary of Duckhorn Vineyards. “They’re unique and ultimately a collector’s wine. You can put one in your cellar and nobody else is going to have it.”

This year, the wines on offer are the newest releases coming to market as well as library selections from 16 vintages. Most of the wines are from the 2018 vintage, considered by wine critics to be a great one, without excessive heat or devastating fires. Wine blogger Alder Yarrow says that it was a magical growing season. "What we saw in 2018 was the first summer in a long time where we didn't have a single day over 100 degrees between veraison and harvest," says Yarrow. "We had this incredibly mellow harvest season that allowed those who farmed well to achieve perfect balance…You had to screw up pretty bad to make a bad wine in 2018." (winesearcher.com)

PNV wines are donated, while still in barrels, to a trade-only auction held in Napa each February, with the money raised used to promote Napa Valley wines around the world. In November, the wine is bottled, the labels numbered and signed by the winemakers, and then made available to consumers — mainly through top retailers and restaurants.

How To Add These Wines to Your Table or Cellar

With the holiday season fast approaching, now is the time to get your hands on these rare wines. “The main two types of customers we have been selling our Premiere bottles to are collectors and people buying rare wine as gifts for their friends, family and bosses,” says Travis Barnett of Wyatt’s Wet Goods, the only store in Colorado to offer PNV wines. This week, beginning November 9th, PNV wines are hitting stores worldwide and Barnett says he is pumped up to promote the exclusivity of these wines during the busy holiday season.

In the past, during non-pandemic years, the release of the PNV wines included lots of fun dinners and in-store visits by the winemakers. This year, like everything else, the wines have gone online. Select retailers all across the globe, like Wyatt’s, are offering these rare wines through their websites which can be found at PremiereNapaValley.com. You can also access live webinars (click on the Napa Valley Sessions link) that tell the story of the passion, the people, and the relationships that bring these wines from the vineyard to the market to a cellar like yours.

In these tough times, let’s celebrate the tenacious American spirit of hope and unity, and a wine that’s come a long way since that fateful day of judgement in May of 1976. Todd Graff, winemaker at Frank Family Vineyards, says that this year in particular, people are looking for ways to come together. The Frank Family 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon, from their Winston Hill “Heart Block,” is the winery’s contribution to PNV, and a fine and unique expression of their Rutherford hillside property. “As we all seek out small joys and a sense of connection this year,” he says, “I hope our wine can play a part.”