The Rise of Napa Valley Wineries:
How the Judgment of Paris put California Wine on the Map
A note from the author:
Presently, I’m writing a book about the Judgment of Paris, the wine tasting in 1976 where Napa Valley wines bested French wines in a blind tasting, that forever changed the world of wine, and by extension the world at large. This is due out from The History Press in May of 2023.
Mark Gudgel
“What an incredible book! My head is spinning with the histories and lives of all those pioneers. Getting hold of land, planting, buying ,selling, fighting, marrying, divorcing, falling out, making up, (or not) and battling on through prohibition, two world wars, and now climate change, wildfire and covid. It’s quite a story! A real hymn to the power of perseverance, and sometimes blind optimism. And of course, talent. The only people who seem to have entirely lost out are original inhabitants of this Garden of Eden, the Wappos, whose sad tale is repeated elsewhere in the world to be sure, but is tragic nonetheless. Gudgel has written a fabulously informative book. I now know more about the subject than I did before. I am amazed that Gudgel managed to fit so much into so relatively short a book.”
~Bella Spurrier
“The Judgement of Paris was without question the most significant event that elevated Napa Valley on the world stage for wine. Mark Gudgel’s The Rise of Napa Valley Wineries is the story of the pioneers, farmers, and winemakers that landed north of San Francisco starting in the mid-1800s, and persevered with grit, passion, and a vision for over hundred years to make wine to rival France, and is as intimately interesting as it is factual. Mark is an excellent storyteller and gives the reader firsthand insights into the trials, tribulations, and triumphs that made Napa Valley what it is today. To know wine and this storied history of how Napa became world-renowned is to know the Judgement of Paris.”
~Barry Waitte, President, Oakville Winegrowers Association
“In The Rise of Napa Valley Wineries, Mark Gudgel has written a lively, detailed and very readable history of the development of the Napa Valley into a world-famous wine region, pivoting around the famous Judgement of Paris tasting in 1976. This sort of perspective is invaluable for anyone with an interest in wine – and it’s remarkable to think of how recent some of these developments are.”
~Dr. Jamie Goode, author of Wine Science, 3rd Edition
“Mark Gudgel has captured the essence of Napa Valley’s storied history and eventual renaissance through a game-changing historical event, The Judgment of Paris. His attention to historical detail portrayed among a cadre of interesting characters and excellent storytelling keep the reader engaged from start to finish.”
~Laura Larson, Editor, Napa Valley Life Magazine
“As the publisher and editor-in-chief of a magazine that covers the extraordinary food and drink producers throughout Napa, Sonoma and Marin counties in Northern California, I am often asked to recommend my favorite places to visit in our region. All too often, it seems that visitors to Wine Country leave with a sense that it is a place that just “sprung forth,” fully formed as it is today, unaware of the deep and rich history of this place. In The Rise of Napa Valley Wineries: How the Judgment of Paris put California Wine on the Map, Mark Gudgel provides readers with a peek behind the curtain, beyond the faux chateaus and perfectly manicured vineyards, to the real people whose passion and hard work built this storied region that has come to produce some of the most highly acclaimed wines in the world. An entertaining and educational read!”
~Gibson Thomas, publisher and editor-in-chief, Edible Marin & Wine Country
“Gudgel constructs a history of Napa Valley to rival the great superhero pantheons of DC and Marvel Comics, one filled with colorful characters, fantastic challenges, thrilling incidents, and centuries of growth displaying one of the most exciting terroirs imaginable.”
– Chase Magnett, ComicBook.com
“The story of the Judgment of Paris and the rise of Napa Valley wineries teaches how, even in the wine world, certain walls need to come tumbling down, walls based on prejudice, snobbery and preconceptions related to the reputation of certain wine areas, especially when it comes to the so called “Old and New worlds”.
Mark Gudgel’s one-of-a-kind, careful and brilliant historical reconstruction of a pivotal moment in world winemaking is a paean/praise/hymn to trusting in the new, overcoming bias, and being open to different cultures, because wine is meant to travel and be shared, wine is inclusion and diversity.”
~Laura Donadoni, TheItalianWineGirl.com
“Mark Gudgel has done a great job, passionately but honestly reconstructing the events that have shaped the history of Napa Valley. A book that can satisfy the curiosity of those who already know the well-known wine-growing area of the ‘new world’ but which can also serve as an instrument of knowledge for Europeans, who are not very erudite about it.”
~Francesco Saverio Russo, Wine Blogger, Wine Educator and creator of Archè 2020 by F.S.R.
“The Judgement of Paris was the influential gift that Napa Valley wasn’t expecting. This somewhat obscure little tasting that no one had heard much about would launch the wines of Napa Valley to a level of notoriety the early winemakers had only dreamed of. It’s a fascinating story and Mark Gudgel provides a thorough dive into the history, not only of the Judgement tasting, but also into the early settlers and vintners of Napa Valley who would lay the groundwork for one of the world’s greatest wine regions. Through his engaging storytelling, Mark brings this colorful history to life, full of interesting characters and unlikely heroes. This is a must-read for any wine lover.”
~Joyce Stavert, Executive Director, Oakville Winegrowers
“The Rise of Napa Valley Wineries is a real page-turner. I have read it three times and plan on a fourth. Well-written, author Mark Gudgel’s passion for this subject reflects in every word. Most importantly I admire the historical accuracy. Obviously written from the heart, this book will sit on the shelves of my personal library for years to come.”
~Kathryn Bazzoli, Sharpsteen Museum, Calistoga
“When people ask what put Napa on the map, the Judgment of Paris is the moment that comes to mind. Mark Gudgel’s The Rise of Napa Valley Wineries: How the Judgment of Paris put California Wine on the Map explores the tasting but more. The years of work that lead up to it, the interconnections of stories and the road to greatness for the region of Napa. An exciting read that is hard to put down made for wine lovers and those that are keen to learn the story from start to finish.”
~Renée Sferrazza, Sommelier, Wine Personality and Journalist
“Gudgel’s The Rise of Napa Valley Wineries impressively encapsulates the hundreds of years of history leading to the rises and falls, but ultimately the rise of the Napa Valley and broader Northern California wine industry. He adds new insights to the Judgement of Paris tasting, and expands our lens to include influential winemakers and wineries beyond the two winners on that fateful day in 1976. I’m grateful he’s included discussion of some of the most critical issues facing the wine industry today and tomorrow: climate action, building resilience to climate change, and growing social equity and diversity.”
~Anna Brittain, Executive Director, Napa Green
“Mark has written an in-depth look at why and how Napa Valley became, well, Napa Valley. It gives background and context to a wine competition that transformed how the world looked at California wines. This book offers a view of the people, from winemakers to farmers, whose visions have forever changed the world of wine. This isn’t just a book for the wine industry, it’s a book for anyone who wants to feel inspired to leave their mark on the world.”
~Julia Coney, Wine Journalist and Wine Consultant for American Airlines
About Mark Gudgel
My interest in wine grew increasingly profound when Sonja and I took a brief honeymoon in Napa and Sonoma in 2013, visiting several producers who, unbeknownst to us at the time, were destined to become some of our lifelong favorites. Shortly thereafter, we began writing a wine blog, with me doing the writing and Sonja taking the pictures. More than one viticultural publication took notice of our work, and soon I found myself working part-time as a wine writer. Today, in addition to the blog, I write for numerous publications about wine, and I’m currently working on a book about the Judgement of Paris in which the Napa Valley’s wines bested top tier French wines in a blind tasting in 1976.
In 2017, at the behest of a dear friend of mine, Dave Deao, I joined the vinNEBRASKA Foundation and began working with this non-profit, established in 1989, to host our annual wine tasting event. When Dave passed away unexpectedly, we began offering a scholarship in his honor. Today, I’m honored to be the President of the Board of Directors, and I hope that if you haven’t already, you’ll attend our next event.
In 2021, I founded Gudgel Ranch, a wine label named in homage of my family’s longstanding legacy in my home state of Nebraska. The first vintage of my flagship Cabernet Sauvignon, Bar 25, was named for my grandfather’s brand and sold out almost immediately. To learn more about Gudgel Ranch wines, please visit the Gudgel Ranch web page.
My writing about wine can be found in Edible Marin & Wine Country, American Winery Guide, Dine Magazine, Food & Spirits Magazine, on Vivino, and elsewhere. Please watch for my book on the Judgement of Paris, focusing on the wineries involved in the famous wine tasting, to be released from The History Press in the spring of 2023, sign up to follow Sonja and my blog ITheeWine,, and follow me on Vivino.
