California, 1878.

At a time when Californian wine couldn't be sold for even ten cents, Charles Wetmore, a lawyer and land rights activist, started an investigation into the dying California wine industry which would set the stage for the New World wine revolution. Wetmore's research found that although most winemakers had access to superior French varietal cuttings, most were maximizing quantity by using high-yield, low flavor varietals such as Mission or Malvoisie. They stressed quantity over quality and produced massive amounts of watery fruit that resulted in very unremarkable wines. Seeing this, Wetmore became inspired and decided to tour France and learn French wine making techniques. Using his charm and savvy business sense, Wetmore managed to receive cuttings from Chateau Yquem and with them started his own vineyard, the Cresta Blanca Winery.

In 1889 the Cresta Blanca Winery produced it's first vintage; a white wine made in the Bordeaux style. Wetmore decided to enter his wine into the Paris Exposition of 1889. This 'rogue' wine emerging from the unknown Livermore Valley managed to seize the Grand Prize at the Expo, the highest award given, and shocked the wine world. Charles Wetmore, after only 11 years, had proven that California was able to product a world class wine, and that the mighty French wine industry could be beaten at their own game. Charles retired three years afterward but continued to promote Californian wines and wine making techniques. Unfortunately the Cresta Blanca Winery went under during America's Prohibition period, and its vineyards lay fallow until the Wente Brothers purchased and restored it in 1981.

The strength of the New World wine industry took root and grew over the years until the next, and most famous tasting known as the "Judgment of Paris" or "The Paris Wine Tasting of 1976" as it was officially called, took place. The competition was organized by the English wine merchant, Steven Spurrier. Spurrier was a strong proponent of the superiority of French wines, and to prove, once and for all, French domination, he organized this competition between the top wineries of France and California. The French judges tasted each wine blind and rated them on a 20 point scale.

Much to the world's surprise, a California wine rated best in each category. This toppling of the giants spurred international recognition of New World wines, put California solidly on the wine map and began the growth of the modern wine industry.