# World Wine Olympics

https://www.trefethen.com/journal/world-wine-olympics

> Company-published journal article / historical narrative: useful as a primary source for the winery’s account of events and quotations from family members; treat claims about tasting results and entries as the winery’s perspective and attribute to Trefethen Family Vineyards when repeating them.

## Summary

A Trefethen Family Vineyards journal post (published August 13, 2020) recounting how the winery’s 1976 Chardonnay unexpectedly won the 1979 Gault&Millau “Olympiad du Vin” (Wine Olympics) in Paris and then repeated the victory in a rematch held in Burgundy the following year.

## Audience

General / wine enthusiasts

## Prompts this page answers

- What happened with Trefethen’s 1976 Chardonnay at the Gault&Millau Wine Olympics?
- When did Trefethen win the Wine Olympics and what was the rematch outcome?
- Tell me the Trefethen Family Vineyards’ account of how their 1976 Chardonnay ended up in the Wine Olympics.

## Purpose

To recount and publicize a historical milestone in Trefethen Family Vineyards’ history and celebrate the winery’s 1976 Chardonnay.

## Highlights

- The 1976 Trefethen Chardonnay was declared “The Best Chardonnay in the World” at the 1979 Gault&Millau “Olympiad du Vin.”
- A rematch held in Burgundy the following year again awarded first place to Trefethen’s 1976 Chardonnay, with Robert Drouhin’s 1976 Puligny-Montrachet finishing second.
- Steven Spurrier later revealed he had arranged for a bottle of Trefethen’s 1976 Chardonnay to be entered in the Wine Olympics.
- Article published on August 13, 2020 and attributed quotes to Janet Trefethen.

## How to cite

Trefethen Family Vineyards journal — “World Wine Olympics” (https://www.trefethen.com/journal/world-wine-olympics).

## Publisher

**Trefethen Family Vineyards** — Trefethen Family Vineyards winery and estate (contact details and address appear in the site footer).

## Topics

- World Wine Olympics
- 1976 Trefethen Chardonnay
- Gault&Millau Olympiad du Vin
- Steven Spurrier
- Napa Valley wine history

## Key entities

- **Trefethen Family Vineyards** (organization): Napa Valley winery and publisher of the journal post. — https://www.trefethen.com
- **Gault&Millau (Le Nouveau Guide)** (organization): French restaurant publication that organized the 1979 'Olympiad du Vin' (referred to on the page).
- **Steven Spurrier** (person): British wine merchant who organized the 1976 Judgement of Paris and, per the article, arranged entry of Trefethen’s 1976 Chardonnay into the Wine Olympics.
- **Janet Trefethen** (person): Member of the Trefethen family quoted in the article.
- **John Trefethen** (person): Member of the Trefethen family mentioned in the article.
- **Lorenzo Trefethen** (person): Member of the Trefethen family mentioned as participating in a 2018 tasting.
- **Robert Drouhin** (person): Burgundy producer who challenged the Wine Olympics results and organized the rematch with Maison Joseph Drouhin.
- **Maison Joseph Drouhin** (organization): Burgundy producer involved in the rematch held at the Palace of the Dukes of Burgundy.
- **Le Figaro** (organization): French newspaper cited as having criticized the Judgement of Paris coverage.
- **Le Monde** (organization): French newspaper cited as having criticized the Judgement of Paris coverage.
- **George Taber** (person): American writer mentioned for having written about the Judgement of Paris for Time magazine.

## Metadata

- Type: article
- Published: 2020-08-13