His 1973 stags leap wine cellars napa valley cabernet sauvignon won the judgment of paris in 1976, besting firstgrowth producers. Today marked the 30th anniversary of the fateful judgment of paris, where european wine experts selected california wines in a double blind tasting over their french. Jan 17, 2008 two movies examine judgment of paris wine competition. California wines prove their longevity on may 24, 2006, a 30 year reenactment of the judgment of paris was organized by steven. He and his colleague patricia gallagher had heard that some interesting wines were starting to be made in california and decided to draw attention to them in france. A small paris tasting shook the wine world in 1976 when french experts ranked california wines over elite french vintages. These are some rather more recent recommended vintages of the wines that performed well in the 1976 judgment of paris tasting that are still produced in much the same fashion as they were 40 years ago. Read the true story of how upstarts from america beat the best wines of france.
Chateau montelena and stags leap wine cellars had won the judgment of paris tasting organized by british wine journalist. Taber is the author of judgment of paris, the 2006 wine book of the year for britains decanter magazine. The re judgment of paris results in california landslide. France and the historic 1976 paris tasting that revolutionized wine, written by. Today, visitors continue to flock to this beautiful tasting room to try the renowned estate cabernet sauvignon while enjoying the sweeping views of the winerys vineyards and the regions signature rock palisades through the walltoceiling glass windows. Resolved by the assembly of the state of california, the senate thereof concurring, that the legislature of the state of california declares may 24, 2006, the 30th anniversary of the judgment of paris in recognition of the importance of the results of the paris wine tasting of 1976. The judgment of paris, this time at home the new york times. Paralleling the 1976 event, nine expert tasters at each location judged the original red wines, now over thirty years old.
George m taber the author recalls the historic events surrounding the 1976 wine tasting contest where top french wine experts compared some of frances most famous wines with the new california wines, and describes. Part deux what the 2006 showdown between california and france really proves linda murphy, chronicle wine editor published 4. At the 1976 tasting, napa valley wines famously trumped those of. 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. The paris tasting which would come to be known as the judgment of paris was held with the expectation that french wines were superior to new. Written by george taber, the time magazine reporter who broke the news of the stunning upset, he also offers fascinating portraits of the two winning winemakers. Rewriting california wines herstory, from judgment of. On may 24, 2006, simultaneous tastings were held in napa and in london. The painting was commissioned by sir peter michael cbe, owner of the peter michael winery in napa as well as the vineyard at stockcross in berkshire, whose american wine list is 3,000.
The winning wine in both the us and uk was the ridge monte bello 1971. The paris wine tasting of 1976, also known as the judgment of paris, was a wine competition. May 24, 2016 wilfred jaeger, a wine panel judge, checks a glass of wine for aromas before tasting during the 30th anniversary of the judgement of paris celebration, in napa, calif. Apr 06, 2016 wine industry experts and influencers talk about the history and significance of the 1976 judgment of paris. Today is the 30 th anniversary of the judgment of paris, the legendary tasting in which a pair of unheralded california wines bested some of frances most celebrated reds and whites. In the late 1970s spurrier was a young wine merchant in paris. But for the next few months, there are going to be some really angry people. France and the historic 1976 paris tasting that revolutionized wine scribner, 2005, by george m. Good fun was the point, just as it was back in 1975, when stephen spurrier, then a wine merchant in paris, conceived of the original event. The salt forty years ago, the top names in french food and wine judged a. 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. 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.
A few months ago i wrote a blog post for the academic wino, discussing the 1976 wine tasting that has become known as the judgment of paris, organized by steven spurrier and patricia gallagher. The judgment of paris 30th anniversary was conducted on 24 may 2006. Today marked the 30th anniversary of the fateful judgment of paris, where european wine experts. The san francisco wine tasting of 1978 soon followed as a rematch of the same wines and vintages and once again california wines rated better. The paris tasting of 1976 will forever be remembered as the landmark event that transformed the wine industry.
Of most interest for our purposes here, however, is the venerable connoisseurs guide to california wine, founded in 1974 by earl singer and charles olken, and still extant today unlike most of its contemporaries. It was, you might say, the collective slurp heard round the world. What the french didnt learn from the legendary winetasting. Forty years ago, on monday 24 may 1976, 11 wine experts met in a room in paris to evaluate 20 wines, 10 cabernets and 10 chardonnays. We wont have to go through that for another thirty years, and by that time all the angry people will be dead anyway. Two movies examine judgment of paris wine competition. Stags leap wine cellars, founded in 1970, quickly gained acclaim when its slv cab won the red wine competition at the paris tasting. The story of the great vinous smackdown is retold in the recently published judgment of paris. This meeting has become known as the judgment of paris, which is a play on words from a beauty contest in greek mythology, and was used as the title of the first magazine article reporting the results. The paris wine tasting of 1976 or 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. The napa wines that famously beat frances best in the 1976 judgement of paris tasting have been chosen from among millions of artefacts as one of the 101 items that made america.
The story of a now legendary 1976 paris wine tasting gets its first hollywood treatment tomorrow night friday with the premiere of. Spurrier unveils judgement of paris canvas at the vineyard. France and the historic 1976 paris tasting that revolutionized wine. May 24, 2016 may 24, 2016 marks the 40th anniversary of the judgment of paris, the day that california officially rocked the wine world. Aug 24, 2016 forty years ago, on monday 24 may 1976, 11 wine experts met in a room in paris to evaluate 20 wines, 10 cabernets and 10 chardonnays. A rematch of the historic 1976 paris event proves california reds age gracefully, as they topple french classics. You can experience the legacies of this historic wine tasting in person when you visit the napa wineries that participated in the judgment of paris 35 years ago. While many of those in attendance had hoped to taste the historic 1973 chateau montelena that won the judgment of paris in 1976, the oldest wine on the docket dated back to 1993. The story of the paris tasting lives on in several forms. In 1976, in honor of the american bicentennial, steven spurrier, a wineshop owner in paris, organized a blind tasting, pitting renowned reds from bordeaux and whites from burgundy against cabernet sauvignons and chardonnays from californiavarietals considered the. It depicts the moment when the panel spurrier had gathered in his paris wine shop, most of whom were eminent french critics, discovered they had ranked californian wines higher than. Mar 24, 2006 the judgment of paris the revolutionary decade that gave the world impressionism by ross king. Steven spurrier, an englishman who owned a wine shop in paris, wanted to drum up business.
It was notable that when, as part of the 2006 reenactment, we. Jul 09, 2016 a shorter version of this article is published by the financial times when his grandson asks him why he is famous, wine writer steven spurrier shows him george m tabers book judgment of paris, a tangible reminder of the fateful blind tasting of california and top french wines he organised on 24 may 1976. His second book, to cork or not to cork, won the jane grigson award from the international association of culinary professionals an. Rewriting california wines herstory, from judgment of paris to today meet joanne depuy and patricia gallaghergastaud, who played as large a role as anyone in the famed 1976 french. The judgment of paris, as that may 24, 1976, wine tasting has come to be known, began as a publicity stunt. Aug 31, 2016 the judgment of paris broke the myth that great wine could only be made in france, said susan doyle, general manager and technical director of spring mountain vineyard, who will be pouring a. 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. On may 24, 2006, a 30 year reenactment of the judgment of paris was organized by steven spurrier this time with simultaneous tastings in london and in napa at copia. The judgment of paris, as it is now known, gave california wines world. The story of a now legendary 1976 paris wine tasting gets its first hollywood. The rejudgment of paris results in california landslide. French wine was the only wine considered worthy of veneration. Mar 21, 2016 it also helped to illuminate why local wine producers consider this tasting to have been so consequential for the california wine industry.
How much you enjoy judgment of paris depends a lot on what you want to get out of it. The book tells the story of a famous blind tasting in paris of california versus france, as well as giving a good history on california wine making and effects the tasting had on new world wine. France and the historic 1976 paris tasting that revolutionized wine, written by george. Where does american wine stand 40 years after judgment of. Spurrier and sir peter unveiled the painting last week at the vineyard, along with yohann jousselin ms, the hotels head sommelier. The painting, measuring six metres by three, is by london artist gary myatt. In 1976, the napa valley was thrust onto the world stage. Nov 23, 2005 the judgment of paris, this time at home. Chateau montelena chardonnay 2009 napa valley stags leap wine cellars, slv cabernet sauvignon 2008 stags leap district, napa valley. Judgment at paris national museum of american history. Tasting 10 of the wines that figured in the judgment of paris, it was impossible not to think of. It was the mic drop moment heard around the wine world. Why we no longer have the data from the judgment of paris.
Jun 02, 2006 i wrote a piece last fall, during the initial wave of discussion about the 30th anniversary, brought on by the publication last year of the book judgment of paris. A turning point for wine thirty years ago in paris, a publicity stunt for a wine shop started a revolution for the napa valley. It was notable that when, as part of the 2006 reenactment, we compared. May 24, 2016 marks the 40th anniversary of the judgment of paris, the day that california officially rocked the wine world. The 30th anniversary of the judgment of paris was held on 24 may 2006 with the same vintages and original panel of judges, plus an additional crew of new wine experts. May 24, 2012 steven spurrier has unveiled an extraordinary new painting a huge canvas of the legendary 1976 judgement of paris. Forty years ago, the top names in french food and wine judged a blind tasting pitting the finest french wines against unknown california. Wine industry experts and influencers talk about the history and significance of the. In one fell swoop, two california wines soundly beat the best france had to offer, and the reverberations of that tasting can still be felt today. The judgment of paris the revolutionary decade that gave the world impressionism by ross king. I wrote a piece last fall, during the initial wave of discussion about the 30th anniversary, brought on by the publication last year of the book 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. Jan 19, 2009 the san francisco wine tasting of 1978 soon followed as a rematch of the same wines and vintages and once again california wines rated better. Thanks to a convincing showing by the handful of wineries represented at the judgment of paris tasting in 1976, the victory of napa valley and the north coast over bordeaux and burgundy signaled a new era for the california wine industry.
His second book, to cork or not to cork, won the jane grigson award from the international association of culinary professionals and was a finalist for the james beard foundation award for best book on wine and spirits and the. The judgment of paris broke the myth that great wine could only be made in france, said susan doyle, general manager and technical director of spring mountain vineyard, who will be. Paris, son of a king, is asked to decide which goddess is the fairest. Wine industry experts and influencers talk about the history and significance of the 1976 judgment of paris. The 1976 judgment of paris wine tasting changed all that. His second book, to cork or not to cork, won the jane grigson award from the international association of culinary professionals and was a finalist for the james beard foundation award for best book on wine and spirits and the andre simon award for best wine book.
This is a trailer of the feeling rotella productions want the movie judgment of paris to exude. Wilfred jaeger, a wine panel judge, checks a glass of wine for aromas before tasting during the 30th anniversary of the judgement of paris celebration, in napa, calif. The 1976 judgment of paris wine tasting the spruce. The judgement of paris about the 1976 paris wine tasting. Where does american wine stand 40 years after judgment of paris. The judgment of paris changed the way new world wineries perceived themselves, and heralded the growth of the current global wine market. Judgement of paris cameron hughes wine tasting room. The salt forty years ago, the top names in french food and wine judged a blind tasting pitting the finest french wines. Here, wines from france were tasted along with some wines from california, and the latter acquitted themselves very well in the opinions of the tasters. 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. B efore 1976, the words judgment of paris called to mind a story in greek mythology.
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