One tasting involved top quality chardonnay and the other bordeaux versus california cabernet sauvignon. A new film inspired by george tabers judgment of paris book is currently being produced. Taber, has followed this excellent factual documentary text with another great book which i highly recommend. California wines won in both categories, putting the napa valley on the map. Our expert and knowledgeable staff are committed to becoming our clients favorite supplier. I wasnt really drinking wine at that time but on rare occasions. The outcry over the event led to spurrier being banned for a year from the french wine tasting tour and resulted in many subsequent replications of the event. You can arrange a picnic, but book a table in advance. Ive been reading the excellent book by george m taber called judgement of paris california vs france and the historic 1976 paris tasting that revolutionised wine. Napa wineries offer judgement of paris wine tour decanter.
The judgement of paris revisited back in may, bristol wine blog remembered a famous event in the wine world that had occurred 40 years earlier, in 1976. Back on may 24th of 1976 they held the famous infamous wine tasting in paris, sometimes known as the judgment of paris. Aug 24, 2016 one day in paris, 40 years later 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. Spurrier unveils judgement of paris canvas at the vineyard.
The judgment of paris hard to find wines hard to find wines. 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. A judgement of parisinspired wset wine course how to. 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. The 1976 judgment of paris wine tasting changed all that. 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 event has spawned a book judgment of paris, a previous movie bottle shock, and 10 th, 20 th, and 30 th anniversary reenactments. 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. Today, you can taste that history by visiting four wineries with deep connections to this historic. Today, in addition to being a wine writer and consultant, he is the proprietor of a 10hectare vineyard at his farm in dorset. The judgment of paris, as that may 24, 1976, wine tasting has come to be.
Jun 01, 2006 his 1973 stags leap wine cellars napa valley cabernet sauvignon won the judgment of paris in 1976, besting firstgrowth producers chateau mouton rothschild and chateau hautbrion, and he beat. Nov 26, 20 one of the most influential wine commentators in the world, steven spurrier sprang to fame as the organizer of the judgment of paris in 1976. Before the paris tasting, there were approximately 67 wineries in the napa valley. His 1973 stags leap wine cellars napa valley cabernet sauvignon won the judgment of paris in 1976, besting firstgrowth producers chateau mouton rothschild and chateau hautbrion, and he beat. The passes allow holders to participate in one special tasting at each of the wineries. 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. The wine concerned wasnt napa valleys stags leap it was 1949 mcdonalds cabernet sauvignon, from the church road winery in new zealands. The judgment of paris changed the way new world wineries perceived themselves, and heralded the growth of the current global wine market. Paris may 24, 1976 it was 40 years ago this week that steven spurrier, a british wine merchant living in paris, held a wine tasting event, the results of which shocked the wine world. 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. A second film judgment of paris, based on george tabers book of the same name was in the works, and there has been. Housed in a frenchstyle, ivycovered chateau built in 1882, the estate boasts gorgeous grounds, and the winery continues to produce estate wines today. Time magazines report on the judgment of paris rjs. At this legendary contesta blind tastinga panel of top french wine experts shocked the industry by choosing unknown california wines over frances best.
A new era of california wine on may 24th, 1976, steven spurrier, an englishman running a wine shop and wine school in paris, organized a tasting of six top california cabernets and chardonnays to celebrate the american bicentennial. The competition was organized by british wine merchant, steven spurrier, to see how california wines would prove against french wines made from the same types of grapes. How to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the judgment of paris. 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. Two of the bottles from that tasting are in the smithsonian institution in washington. The judgment of paris forever changed the california wine trade. May 24, 2016 may 24, 2016 marks the 40th anniversary of the judgment of paris, the day that california officially rocked the wine world. The judgement of paris will always be seen as the turning point for the napa valley. The judgment of paris hard to find wines hard to find. May 24, 2016 the judgment of paris, as that may 24, 1976, wine tasting has come to be known, began as a publicity stunt. France and the historic 1976 paris tasting that revolutionized wine george m.
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. At this legendary contest a blind tasting a panel of top french wine experts shocked the industry by choosing unknown california wine. In 1976, unknown californian wines beat top french wines in a blind wine tasting in paris. Oct 01, 2016 the judgement of paris revisited back in may, bristol wine blog remembered a famous event in the wine world that had occurred 40 years earlier, in 1976.
Tell your friends that its time to rekindle some good oldfashioned frenchamerican animosity, and. May 27, 2016 taber later compiled the experience in his book. 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. Where does american wine stand 40 years after judgment of. Steven spurrier has unveiled an extraordinary new painting a huge canvas of the legendary 1976 judgement of paris. The dynamic part of the world wine business today is not in europe, but in the new worldargentina, australia, chile, new zealand, south africa, and the united states. Aug 11, 2015 well, when steven spurrier did just that in his 1976 judgement of paris dinner, the result shocked everyone, with a californian wine topping each category, turning the wine world on its head, and causing several judges to demand their ballot papers back or even to resign from their positions. Forty years ago, the top names in french food and wine judged a blind. Taber is the author of judgment of paris, the 2006 wine book of the year for britains decanter magazine. The account in the judgement of paris by george tabor is wellwritten.
France and the historic 1976 paris tasting that revolutionized wine bulk, wholesale. Youll also probably quit your job, buy a house in napa and start dabbling in the wine business. This event took place with simultaneous tastings in napa. Tell your friends that its time to rekindle some good oldfashioned frenchamerican animosity, and that wine is the way to do it.
George m tabers book judgment of paris, a tangible reminder of the fateful. This tuesday marks the 40th anniversary of the judgment of parisa blind tasting that proved to be a decisive turning point in the history of wine. One tasting involved top quality chardonnay and the other. It also helped to illuminate why local wine producers consider this tasting to have been so consequential for the california wine industry. Woodberry wine is a distributor of exceptional, high value wines from both the united states and around the world.
Well, when steven spurrier did just that in his 1976 judgement of paris dinner, the result shocked everyone, with a californian wine topping each category, turning the wine world on its head, and causing several judges to demand their. The judgment of paris the revolutionary era that gave the world impressionism by. 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. May 24, 2016 marks the 40th anniversary of the judgment of paris, the day that california officially rocked the wine world. France and the historic 1976 paris tasting that revolutionized wine. He had no idea his 2 hr tasting would unleash a revolution in the wine industry. May 11, 2016 the event has spawned a book judgment of paris, a previous movie bottle shock, and 10 th, 20 th, and 30 th anniversary reenactments. Steven spurrier, an englishman who owned a wine shop in paris, wanted to drum up business.
At the 1976 tasting, napa valley wines famously trumped those of. France and the historic 1976 tasting that revolutionized wine taber, 2005. Chefs jeremiah tower and nancy silverton host judgement of paris legends dinner. France and the historic 1976 paris tasting that revolutionized wine ebook. France and the historic 1976 paris tasting that revolutionized wine, at stags leap wine cellars, and on may 24, stags leap will host a joint open house with chateau montelena. France and the historic 1976 paris tasting that revolutionized wine from the worlds largest community.
The paris tasting of 1976 will forever be remembered as the landmark event that transformed the wine industry. In this book, the author fondly remembers their many professional encounters in the 25 years that followed. The 1976 paris wine tasting, also known as the judgment of paris, was a wine competition that took place on may 24, 1976 in paris, france. It may not sound exciting, but george has done an outstanding job of researching the technology of sealing wine bottles over a rather extended period of time. Only four paragraphs reported the event in time magazine, but the event itself changed forever the perception of california wines. It is a fascinating and educational account, not only of the tasting event, but also of the history of wine in france and the napa region. A visit to chateau montelena allows a glimpse into napa valley history.
The most notable recreation was the 30 th anniversary of the judgement of paris held in 2006, again organised by spurrier. The judgement of paris about the 1976 paris wine tasting. France and the historic 1976 paris tasting that revolutionized wine bulk. Next week the smithsonian will host the winners for. May 24, 2012 steven spurrier has unveiled an extraordinary new painting a huge canvas of the legendary 1976 judgement of paris. One of the most influential wine commentators in the world, steven spurrier sprang to fame as the organizer of the judgment of paris in 1976. Oct 20, 2014 is french wine really the best in the world, or does california wine give it a run for its money. This wine competition, organized by stephen spurrier a british wine merchant, included two blind tastings carried out by french judges. Dubbed the judgment of paris, the event put napa valley among the worlds great wine regions. 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.
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