Paris, son of a king, is asked to decide which goddess is the fairest. Rewriting california wines herstory, from judgment of paris to today meet joanne depuy and patricia gallaghergastaud, who played as. The paris tasting of 1976 was recently put to film in the movie bottle shock. Cabernet sauvignon was the winning red at the 1976 tasting. He is also the founder of the academie du vin and christies wine course, in addition to authoring and coauthoring several wine books. Judgment of napa event to recreate the famed 1976 paris. The response of the french judges to the results was that the california wines would not age and the french wines would win if tasted again in 30 years. Judgment of paris the only reporter present at the mythic paris tasting of 1976a blind tasting where a panel of esteemed french judges chose upstart california wines over frances bestfor the first time introduces the eccentric american winemakers and records the tremendous aftershocks of this historic event that changed forever the world of wine. The very best wine books picked by pros wine folly. Wine tasting in paris is the ultimate experience for people interested in doing a little wine tourism right in the heart of paris. Briefly as theres tons of excellent documentation on this event available anywhere fine wine books are sold, and of course, the interwebz a british wine merchant set up a.
California was validated as a bonafide wine producing region. The effects of the 1976 paris blind tasting were immediate. Only one journalist bothered to attend, a time correspondent, looking for a possible american angle. Steven spurrier, an englishman who owned a wine shop in paris, wanted to drum up business. Spurrier organized the paris wine tasting of 1976, which unexpectedly elevated the status of california wine and promoted the expansion of wine production in the new world. Rewriting california wines herstory, from judgment of. France and the historic 1976 paris tasting that revolutionized wine george m. The judgment of paris, as that may 24, 1976, wine tasting has come to. In 1976, a paris wine shop arranged a tasting as a gimmick to introduce some california wines. This event began the realestate boom in the napa valley and surrounding wine regions, like sonoma county and mendocino. Before 1976, the words judgment of paris called to mind a story in greek mythology.
Wine tasting in paris french wine tasting in english in. On may 24, 1976, spurrier, along with a panel of french wine experts, tasted through 10 white wines and 10 red wines in two blind tastings. This is the book that tells the story of the first time the world realized that wine can be great even from placesotherthanfrance. Relive the 1976 judgment of paris at these wineries the. Taber 2011, mp3 cd, unabridged at the best online prices at ebay. The only reporter present at the mythic paris tasting of 1976a blind tasting where a panel of esteemed french judges chose upstart california wines over frances bestfor the first time introduces the eccentric american winemakers and records the tremendous aftershocks of this historic event that changed forever the world of wine. The paris wine tasting of 1976 or the judgment of paris was a wine competition held in paris on 24 may 1976 organised by steven spurrier, a british wine merchant, who owned a wine store in the city. Wineintro explores the delicious variety and beautiful history which makes up our world of wine. France and the historic 1976 paris tasting that revolutionized wine by george m. This book tells a story, and its the best such wine book ive ever read. Told for the first time by the only reporter present, this is the true story of the legendary paris tasting of 1976 a blind tasting where french judges shocked the industry by choosing unknown california wines over frances best and its revolutionary impact on the world of wine. If the soils of the napa valley could produce wines that bested the best. The judgment of paris, as that may 24, 1976, wine tasting has come to be known, began as a publicity stunt. You will learn everything there is to know about french wines from the differences in their tastes to the regions they originate from, and how to properly order a bottle in a restaurant or a wine bar.
That revolutionary may day in 1976 when california wines. The white house served french wines from the days of george washington right up through lyndon b. These are the wines that won at the nowfamous paris tasting in 1976, where a panel of top french wine experts compared some of frances most. It was on that day that two napa valley wines chateau montelenas 1973 chardonnay and stags leap wine cellars 1973 cabernet sauvignon prevailed in a blind tasting competition between french and american wines, known today as the judgment of paris. France and the historic 1976 paris tasting that revolutionized wine. The only reporter present at the mythic paris tasting of 1976a blind tasting where a panel of esteemed french judges chose upstart. This historic wine tasting has become a landmark event for the california wine industry in general and was a pivotal turning point for the napa valley in particular. The tasting became known as the judgment of paris, and ended an era in which it was thought that fine wine came only from europe.
Lisa loves supporting local wineries and encouraging people to drink whatever they like. If ever there was a winethemed cinderella story, it would have to be the 1976 paris tasting, also known somewhat satirically as the judgment of paris. The paris wine tasting of 1976, also known as the judgment of paris, was a wine competition organized in paris on 24 may 1976 by steven spurrier, a british wine merchant, in which french judges carried out two blind tasting comparisons. Long considered californias most famous wine region, napa valley exploded into the global spotlight following the 1976 judgment of paris, when a chateau montelena chardonnay from calistoga trounced nine other chardonnays in a blind tasting in paris, including extremely prestigious bottles from france. The smithsonians national museum of american history houses, amid its illustrious artifacts, two bottles of wine. California vs france and the 1976 wine tasting that. Steven spurrier has been extremely busy this year attending various 40th anniversary reruns around the world of the famous judgment of paris tasting he instigated in 1976 that overturned so many preconceptions about california wine and put the collective french nose out of joint on monday night he, and i, were at an adapted rerun organised and hosted. At this legendary contest a blind tasting a panel of top french wine experts shocked the industry by choosing unknown california wines over frances best. Today marks the anniversary of the paris wine tasting of 1976, a blind tasting panel that came to be known as the judgement of paris more on that in a moment. The former wine merchant who staged the judgment of.
In 1976, britishborn steven spurrier, a fine wine merchant in paris, organized a wine tasting competition between california and french wines, with the expectation that the french wines would win. Campbell mattisons wine hunter is also a good book but judgment of paris is less sentimental, and much broader. May 24, 1976 has gone down in the wine history books as the day when everything changed for california. Chronicle wine editor linda murphy was not among the nine official judges at the reenactment of the 1976 paris tasting in napa on may 24, but she was one of eight media guests who tasted the 10. Taber the small and little noted tasting in paris in 1976 of several californian wines against the top echelon of the french wine industry sparked horror in france and pride in the usa where for the first time hard evidence existed showing the american wine industry as a force to be reckoned with. The judgement of paris about the 1976 paris wine tasting. The paris wine tasting of 1976, also known as the judgment of paris, was a wine competition organized in paris on 24 may 1976 by steven spurrier, a british. Get 50% off this audiobook at the audiobooksnow online audio book store and download or stream it right to your computer, smartphone or tablet. Taber is the author of judgment of paris, the 2006 wine book of. Wine lovers near and far are familiar with the famous 1976 judgment of paris, an event in which two california wines a white and a red beat out its french competitors. The tasting was the brainchild of steven spurrier, an english wine merchant who owned an innovative wine shop and adjacent wine school in the center of paris.
When paris is swayed by aphrodites promise to bestow the exquisite helen of troy upon him. The only reporter present at the mythic paris tasting of 1976a blind tasting where. California now produces some of the best wine in the world, including several 100 point wines. On may 24, 1976, a wine tasting took place in paris that changed the worlds view of california wines forever. Judgement of paris cameron hughes wine tasting room. The paris tasting of 1976 will forever be remembered as the landmark event that transformed the wine industry. France the historic 1976 paris tasting that revolutionized wine new ebooks.