Oregon Chardonnay Triumphs Over French Rivals in Legendary Blind Tasting Redo

Flâneur Wines' 2021 Bon Vivant Chardonnay from Willamette Valley beats out renowned French producers in "1976 Judgment of Paris Redo" competition.

Mar. 27, 2026 at 2:20pm

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In a repeat of the historic 1976 Judgment of Paris blind tasting, an Oregon chardonnay from Flâneur Wines has emerged victorious over renowned French producers. The 2021 Bon Vivant Chardonnay from Willamette Valley bested wines from prestigious Burgundy names like Roulot, Lafon, Raveneau and Coche in the "1976 Judgment of Paris Redo" competition held in New York City.

Why it matters

The original 1976 Judgment of Paris tasting famously demonstrated that American wines could rival their European counterparts in quality, sparking a shift in the global wine industry. This recent Oregon chardonnay victory underscores the continued rise of the state's wine scene and its ability to produce world-class wines that can stand up to the best of Burgundy.

The details

In the 1976 Redo competition, the Flâneur 2021 Bon Vivant Chardonnay emerged victorious after two rounds of blind tastings. The first round was held in Sebastopol, California in January 2025, where a panel of nine judges narrowed down nearly 400 American wines from 11 states across four categories. The Flâneur chardonnay was the top-rated in the chardonnay category. It then went on to win the chardonnay category again in the final blind tasting in New York City on March 24, 2026, where a panel of 12 judges pitted the top American wines against five French counterparts.

  • The original Judgment of Paris tasting took place on March 24, 1976.
  • The "1976 Judgment of Paris Redo" competition was held on March 24, 2026.

The players

Flâneur Wines

A winery based in Carlton, Oregon that produced the award-winning 2021 Bon Vivant Chardonnay.

Marty Doerschlag

The founder of Flâneur Wines.

Patrick Cappiello

A Sonoma County, California winemaker and sommelier who organized the "1976 Judgment of Paris Redo" competition.

Steven Spurrier

The British wine merchant who organized the original 1976 Judgment of Paris tasting in Paris.

Odette Kahn

A leading French wine and cuisine expert who was a judge at the original 1976 Judgment of Paris tasting.

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What they’re saying

“We believe the American wine industry deserves more recognition.”

— Patrick Cappiello, Organizer of the "1976 Judgment of Paris Redo"

“When we taste the 2021 Bon Vivant as a team, its quality is sort of eyebrow-raising. But at the same time, I'm so in love with that vintage, because I always feel like it's Mother Nature making up for 2020. So all the wines from 2021, for me, are exceptional.”

— Marty Doerschlag, Founder, Flâneur Wines

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This Oregon chardonnay victory against renowned French producers is a testament to the continued rise and global recognition of Oregon's wine industry. It underscores the state's ability to produce world-class wines that can stand up to the best of Burgundy, cementing Oregon's place as a premier wine region.