Festival Napa Valley Announces the World Premiere of The Judgment of Paris

A new one-act opera by Jake Heggie and Gene Scheer celebrates the 50th anniversary of the legendary 1976 wine tasting that changed the world

NAPA, CALIFORNIA (December 10, 2025) — Festival Napa Valley is proud to announce the commissioning and world premiere of The Judgment of Paris, a new one-act opera by acclaimed composer Jake Heggie and librettist Gene Scheer. The work will debut on July 18, 2026, on the Festival Napa Valley Stage at Charles Krug Winery, as part of Festival Napa Valley’s landmark 20th Anniversary Season. This project marks Festival Napa Valley’s first opera commission and will be performed with full orchestra.

Blending myth and modernity, The Judgment of Paris reimagines the iconic 1976 blind tasting that put Napa Valley wines on the global stage and forever changed the relationship between tradition and innovation. The opera brings the gods of Olympus together with the pioneers of California winemaking in a hilarious and heartfelt celebration of discovery, creativity, and transformation.

The production features an all-star cast led by soprano Danielle De Niese as Venus and baritone Quinn Kelsey as Bacchus, with tenor Nicholas Phan as Steven Spurrier, mezzo-soprano Simone McIntosh as Patricia Gallagher, and soprano Brenda Rae as Odette Kahn.

They are joined by Festival Napa Valley’s Manetti Shrem Opera Program Fellows, portraying the Napa and Paris pioneers at the heart of the story: Joanne DePuy, Mike Grgich, Warren Winiarski, and George Taber. A chorus portrays the customers at the Académie du Vin and the French judges who take part in the fateful tasting. The opera will be directed by Jean-Romain Vesperini and conducted by Kent Nagano, with projections by a team of designers whose credits include the Paris Olympics.

The premiere marks a convergence of three major milestones: the 50th anniversary of the 1976 Judgment of Paris, the 250th anniversary of the United States, and the 20th anniversary of Festival Napa Valley. Together, they form the backdrop for an opera that celebrates the pioneering spirit that reshaped both wine and art.

“This opera captures the essence of Napa Valley — curiosity, courage, and the joy of discovery,” said Charles Letourneau, Vice President and Director of Artistic Planning at Festival Napa Valley. “We are thrilled to collaborate with Jake Heggie and Gene Scheer on a project that unites artistry, history, and the enduring power of innovation.”

“Wine and opera – a pairing made in heaven! I am having the time of my life writing The Judgment of Paris and collaborating with the first-rate creative team assembled by Festival Napa Valley. This story has such great heart and its high stakes, infused with the antics of Bacchus and Venus, make for a truly fun piece. The music that’s emerging is vital, rhythmic, and filled with the soaring vocal lyricism I adore. I’d been yearning for a joyful new project that sets my creative spirit on fire – this is the one!” said composer Jake Heggie. 

“Few subjects embody passion and drama as vividly as wine! Wine lovers speak of exceptional bottles the way opera devotees recall transcendent nights at the theater: with reverence, emotion and a keen memory of where they were, who they were with and the magic of the moment”,  said librettist Gene Scheer. “Wine is inseparable from romance, celebration, and indelible experiences—the very lifeblood of opera. In our opera, gods and mortals collide as they navigate the challenge of honoring cherished traditions while embracing the exhilaration of taking risks and finding new ways of tasting the delights of the world”.

In the opera, the god of wine Bacchus defends the eternal supremacy of French wine, while Venus champions curiosity and change. Their celestial rivalry spills from Olympus into 1970s Paris and Napa Valley, where Steven Spurrier, Patricia Gallagher, and a group of visionary winemakers stage the audacious blind tasting that shocks the world. When the results reveal Napa wines at the top of the rankings, gods and mortals alike are forced to reconsider what tradition, excellence, and innovation truly mean.

National Preview Events

Festival Napa Valley will preview The Judgment of Paris through a series of events leading up to the world premiere:

• February 18, 2026 – Printemps, New York City
  International Wine Day: a special evening at Printemps New York, the iconic Parisian retailer’s first U.S. flagship located inside the landmark One Wall Street building, featuring a wine tasting and conversation with Jake Heggie, Gene Scheer, and Charles Letourneau, as well as a sneak preview performance by Jake Heggie at the piano.

• April 5–9, 2026 – San Francisco Conservatory of Music
  Workshop week with rehearsals, reading performance, and Napa wine tasting.

• May 26, 2026 – Los Angeles
  National Wine Day: an event featuring additional musical excerpts and a celebration of American winemaking.

The world premiere of The Judgment of Paris will take place on July 18, 2026, on the Festival Napa Valley Stage at Charles Krug, with additional performances anticipated at venues in the United States and beyond.

For more information, visit www.festivalnapavalley.org.

Cast and Creative Team

Composer: Jake Heggie
Librettist: Gene Scheer
Conductor: Kent Nagano
Director: Jean-Romain Vesperini

Bacchus (baritone): Quinn Kelsey
Venus (soprano): Danielle De Niese
Steven Spurrier (tenor): Nicholas Phan
Patricia Gallagher (mezzo-soprano): Simone McIntosh
Odette Kahn (soprano): Brenda Rae

From the Manetti Shrem Opera Program Fellows:
Joanne DePuy
Mike Grgich
Warren Winiarski
George Taber
Chorus: Customers at the Académie du Vin; French judges

Media Contacts:

Andrew Ousley, Unison Media – andrew@unison.media
Laura Gigounas, Glodow Nead Communications - laura@glodownead.com or 415.203.2802

About Festival Napa Valley

Festival Napa Valley champions the power of music to enrich the human experience and create a thriving, healthy, and engaged community. The 2026 Summer Season will take place July 4-19 at venues throughout Napa Valley, marking the Festival’s 20th anniversary with performances by international stars and rising talent, paired with Napa Valley’s world-class food, wine, and hospitality. 

Tickets to the Patron Experience July 10-19, offering exclusive access to Napa Valley’s finest wineries, resorts, and estates, are on sale now at www.festivalnapavalley.org.