Gosling's hosted a dinner and wine-tasting last Friday, featuring a winemaker from the California winery which caused a sensation when its Chardonnay beat off French competition in a formal tasting in Paris 34 years ago.

James (Bo) Barrett entertained customers who had paid $175 for a five-course meal with accompanying wines from Mr. Barrett's Chateau Montelena vineyard.

Mr. Barrett told diners that he worked to produces classical wines with California flavours.

In 1976 Chateau Montelena put California at the forefront of the wine world. A who's-who of the French wine and food establishment gathered for a grand tasting at the Inter-Continental Hotel in Paris.

Four white Burgundies were tasted against six California Chardonnays. When the scores were tallied, the French judges were convinced that the top-ranking white wine was one of their own. In fact, it was Chateau Montelena's 1973 Chardonnay, rated above all other wines.