Stags Leap, Stag’s Leap or Stags’ Leap?
All of the above, actually.
One is the name of the wine district, the other the name of a wine cellar the third is the name of winery.
The Stags Leap Wine District. The region takes it’s name from a legend of a stag leaping to escape across a gorge after being chased by hunters on the cliffs above the tiny valley within the Napa Valley. Because of the steep cliffs along the east side of the region reflecting sun into the valley, temperatures can be 10 – 12 degrees warmer than surrounding areas.
The Stags Leap Wine District soil is mostly gravel and ash. Cabernet Sauvignon loves the drainage that gravely soil provides, while Merlot digs in to the clay soil left behind by the dry Napa River bed. With these two grapes thriving, it’s no surprise the region has been called “Bordeaux West.”
Stags Leap District / Stags’ Leap Winery – by Buzz Bishop on Flickr
The house at Stags’ Leap was built in 1893. It was used as a winery for only 16 years before it was shuttered as America went through prohibition. For more than 60 years the property operated as a luxurious resort before re-opening in 1972 as a winery again.
When it was reopened as a winery, the owners went back to the heritage Stags’ Leap brand. Yet just a few doors down was the Stag’s Leap producer.
The original wine making permits for Stags’ Leap had expired during the 60 years it had operated as a resort. In the years before the wine making was started again, Stag’s Leap went and registered the name.
The battle between the two producers reached a peak of confusion in 1976 at the famous Judgment of Paris.
At a blind tasting, nine French judges awarded first place to the 1973 Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon over such formidable French producers as Mouton-Rothschild and Haut Brion. Immediately phones started ringing at both winemaking facilities as consumers and agents couldn’t readily distinguish the difference between Stags’ Leap and Stag’s Leap.
As you would expect a long winded 13 year legal battle brewed between the two and in the end, nothing was solved. The judge had to consider the heritage of Stags’ Leap vs the notoriety of Stag’s Leap. In the end, he went down the middle. Stags’ Leap was to be called a Winery, Stag’s Leap was to be called a Wine Cellar. The heritage was too much to ignore, and the notoriety couldnt be erased.
Some call it the million dollar apostrophe, and while the judge clearly set out the rules with which the two producers can operate, and they understand them, the public, understandably, is confused. Restaurant menus are constantly misprinted. People will see Stags’ Leap on the menu, only to be poured Stag’s Leap at their table.
Complicating matters more is any winemaker within the Stags Leap District can put that region on their label, adding a third spelling to the wine lists.
The three are very similar, yet couldn’t be more different.
The Blog According to Buzz. Spread the word, ya heard?
[Disclosure: Stags Leap is a member of Fosters Wine Estates. Jen is a sales rep for the company and we were a guest of the winery.]
So which is considered to be the better wine….er, maker? The Cellar or the Winery? The one that won the contest, or the one with the heritage? Do they usually sell at similar price points? This could be important if you order Stag’s from the menu, but receive Stags’ in the pour, and are held to the Stag’s price on the menu… [assuming for this example that the Stag's Leap garners a higher price, which may not be the case in reality]
Stags’ (the heritage winery) produces bottle far less in price than Stag’s (contest winner).
The taster joked that sometimes Stags’ will be on a wine list, and Stag’s will be brought to the table. He encouraged you to “drink up!” because the price of Stags’ is far less than Stag’s.
I didnt do a side by side tasting of the two, so I can’t really say which is better, only which costs more and is more “famous”
Buzz, we took your advice and booked the tour, OMG it was a 12 out of 10. The guide, the history, the story, the grounds and finally the petite syrah, all fabulous. Thanks for the tips….
Buzz, we took your advice and booked the tour, OMG it was a 12 out of 10. The guide, the history, the story, the grounds and finally the petite syrah, all fabulous. Thanks for the tips….
Buzz, we took your advice and booked the tour, OMG it was a 12 out of 10. The guide, the history, the story, the grounds and finally the petite syrah, all fabulous. Thanks for the tips….
Buzz, we took your advice and booked the tour, OMG it was a 12 out of 10. The guide, the history, the story, the grounds and finally the petite syrah, all fabulous. Thanks for the tips….
Buzz, we took your advice and booked the tour, OMG it was a 12 out of 10. The guide, the history, the story, the grounds and finally the petite syrah, all fabulous. Thanks for the tips….
Buzz, we took your advice and booked the tour, OMG it was a 12 out of 10. The guide, the history, the story, the grounds and finally the petite syrah, all fabulous. Thanks for the tips….
Buzz, we took your advice and booked the tour, OMG it was a 12 out of 10. The guide, the history, the story, the grounds and finally the petite syrah, all fabulous. Thanks for the tips….
Buzz, we took your advice and booked the tour, OMG it was a 12 out of 10. The guide, the history, the story, the grounds and finally the petite syrah, all fabulous. Thanks for the tips….
Buzz, we took your advice and booked the tour, OMG it was a 12 out of 10. The guide, the history, the story, the grounds and finally the petite syrah, all fabulous. Thanks for the tips….