It was the tasting that shattered the illusion that the french were the only ones capable of making fine wines it was also the tasting that would revolutionise the world of wine. Aug 10, 2016 interview of warren winiarski, founder of stags leap wine cellars, by richard mendelson at north bay business journals impact napa on aug. Denman explains why california wines and french wines are different. Book french wine tour wine tasting in paris french wine.
On may 24, 1976, a wine tasting took place in paris that changed the worlds view of california wines forever. You are purchasing an excellent wine harvested in 1976 in one of the finest french and italian wineries. Uks largest gift services with over 2500 products specialising in bordeaux wine and vintage port for special occasions. May 24, 2016 marks the 40th anniversary of the judgment of paris, the day that california officially rocked the wine world. In his autobiography robert mondavi wrote, the paris tasting was an enormous event in the history of california wine making.
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. Jun 16, 2005 the story behind the story that made wine history. Bottle shock the movie blind tasting scene judgment. May 24, 2016 the 1976 judgment totally changed the game, says white, who runs the popular wine blog terroirist and is the author of the forthcoming book but first, champagne. 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. If you are seeking more indepth information on anything and everything related to the bordeaux wine region please see the. Taber is the author of judgment of paris, the 2006 wine book of.
The wines we sell are real and intact wines from 1976 in their original bottle with authentic label and cork. 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. The following is a summary of the results of the 1976 blind taste test, with the points each wine received in parentheses. It was the tasting that shattered the illusion that the french were the only ones capable of making fine wines it was. 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. All the wine tasting activities are cancelled from saturday march 14th to at least 1st of april opening date is still unknown. 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. Mar 14, 20 adviser denman moody reflects on the historic blind tasting competition between california and french wines which took place in the 1976 in paris. The judgment of paris changed the way new world wineries perceived themselves, and heralded the growth of the current global wine market. Stores and prices for 1976 chateau margaux, margaux prices, stores, tasting notes and market data. 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.
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. The judgment of paris, as that may 24, 1976, wine tasting has come to be known, began as a publicity stunt. He was a champion of french wine, and decided to hold a blind tasting at the intercontinental hotel in paris. 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. Those of you who follow wine news with any regularity know that theres been quite a bit of hoopla these past few weeks about todays recreation of that 1976 tasting. In 1976, the towns chateau montelena and its 1973 chardonnay beat out the best french wines at the legendary tasting known as the judgment of paris.
The 1976 judgment of paris tasting, plus presidential support, brought respect to american wine. 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. Organized by wine merchant steven spurrier, an englishman who was then only 34 and running a wine school in. France and the historic 1976 paris tasting that revolutionized wine by. Stags leap and chateau montelena beat all famous french wines to the shock of the world. 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. Taber is the author of judgment of paris, the 2006 wine book of the year for britains decanter magazine. Uks largest gift services with over 2500 products specialising in bordeaux wine. Cabernet sauvignon was the winning red at the 1976 tasting. The 1976 judgment totally changed the game, says white, who runs the popular wine blog terroirist and is the author of the forthcoming book but first, champagne.
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. Only one journalist bothered to attend, a time correspondent, looking for a possible american angle. 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. 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 wine merchant, in which french judges carried out two blind tasting comparisons. Interview of warren winiarski, founder of stags leap wine cellars, by richard mendelson at north bay business journals impact napa on aug. Needless to say, the french judges were speechless after the points were tallied and the labels were revealed. The story of the carry on films and 40th anniversary reunion, 1998 duration. At this legendary contesta blind tastinga panel of top french wine experts shocked. May 02, 2016 steven spurrier, a britishborn wine expert who ran a fine wine shop in paris, was the mastermind behind the whole tasting. Judgement of paris 1976 french vs californian wines. The 1976 judgment of paris wine tasting changed all that.
France and the historic 1976 paris tasting that revolutionized wine ebook. The paris tasting of 1976 will forever be remembered as the landmark event that transformed the wine industry. At this legendary contest a blind tasting a panel of top french wine experts shocked the industry by choosing unknown california wine. 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. Jun 23, 2017 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. In 1976, a parisbased british wine merchant steven spurrier organized a blind tasting of california and french wines in honor of the american bicentennial. 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 counterparts. The story behind the story that made wine history sfgate. The only reporter present at the mythic paris tasting of 1976 a 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. Decoding the judgment of paris wine enthusiast magazine. These bacigalupi grapes, you recall, accounted for 40% of the bottling in the winning white the chateau montelena 1973 chardonnay. Judgment of paris is one of the best books on california wine ive ever read. The judgment of paris, as that may 24, 1976, wine tasting has come to. France and the historic 1976 paris tasting that revolutionized wine from the worlds largest community.
If the soils of the napa valley could produce wines that bested the best. 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. France and the historic 1976 paris tasting that revolutionized wine. The book has been translated into nine languages, including japanese and croatian. The 1976 judgment of paris wine tasting the spruce. The rejudgment of paris results in california landslide. France and the 1976 paris tasting that revolutionized wine scribner, september 2005, which became a bestselling book. Taber, who has written a book on this judgment of paris and its. Before 1976, the words judgment of paris called to mind a story in greek. 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. Back in may, bristol wine blog remembered a famous event in the wine world that had occurred 40 years earlier, in 1976. Today, calistogas local wine scene still has attentiongrabbing appealin part thanks to castello di amorosa, the medievalstyle, multiturreted castle on a hill built by italianstyle winemaker dario sattui. Wine spectator looks back at key moments in recent u. Nearly 30 years later, he delved into the story again and wrote judgment of paris.
Organized by wine merchant steven spurrier, an englishman who was then only 34 and running a wine school in paris, it was aimed mainly at. May 07, 2001 few expected much from the 1976 paris tasting. Since his motive was publicity for his wine shop, he was disappointed when only one journalist, george taber of time, accepted his invitation to attend. 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. At the 1976 tasting, napa valley wines famously trumped those of. At this legendary contesta blind tastinga panel of top french wine experts shocked the industry by choosing unknown california wines over frances best. The american wine industry quickly grasped what had happened.
Steven spurrier, an englishman who owned a wine shop in paris, wanted to drum up business. 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. It was selected as the wine book of the year by decanter, the british wine magazine. 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. Best french and california winea test that changed a world. France and the historic 1976 paris tasting that revolutionized wine bulk, wholesale.