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. Jun 06, 20 the film, titled judgement of paris, written by hollywood screenwriter robert mark kamen, will be produced by kamen and italian businessman jonathan rotella known for his work in the action. The 1976 judgment of paris wine tasting changed all that. At this legendary contesta blind tastinga panel of top french wine experts shocked the industry by choosing unknown california wines over. May 11, 2016 the event has spawned a book judgment of paris. A californian wine rated best in each category, which caused surprise as france was generally regarded as being the foremost producer of the worlds best wines.
Paris, son of a king, is asked to decide which goddess is the fairest. In this competition french judges were invited to blindtaste top chardonnays and cabernet sauvignons from france and california. Chefs jeremiah tower and nancy silverton host judgement of paris legends dinner. Tabers book has inspired a number of commemorative tastings in the leadup to the anniversary.
Oct 24, 2014 as george taber recalls in his book the judgment of paris, at the time the only california wine that could be bought in paris was paul masson. Forty years ago, the top names in french food and wine judged a. The judgment of paris changed the way new world wineries perceived themselves, and heralded the growth of the current global wine market. As taber acknowledges at the outset of his book, however, the tasting was not even supposed to be a competition.
In it, the three goddesses have been reduced to three town biddies in smalltown washington state. 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. Today, beauty contests often lead to arguments amongst competitors and spectators, but in greek mythology there was one beauty contest that would lead to war, death and destruction, and that beauty contest was the judgement of paris, one of the starting points for the ultimate destruction of troy. The judgment of paris, this time at home the new york times. George taber, the time magazine journalist who first reported the tasting, in 2005 wrote a detailed account of the event and its impact in his book, judgment of paris. Judgement of paris 1976 french vs californian wines. On may 24, 1976, a wine tasting took place in paris that changed the worlds view of california wines forever.
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. Wine industry experts and influencers talk about the history and significance of the. It talks about the history of the industry in france, and how it developed in california. Oct 24, 2018 the hidden figures behind the judgment of paris many retellings of california wines most popular myth omit the women who made the judgment of paris happen. James laube, wine spectator taber tells the tale with the same authority, depth, and clarity as the american wines that won fascinating characters, great locales, and a fine bouquet.
But for the next few months, there are going to be some really angry people. 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. Why the judgment of paris really matters and why it doesnt. May 24, 2006 tabers book has inspired a number of commemorative tastings in the leadup to the anniversary. 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 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.
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 judgement of paris was burlesqued in the 1954 musical the golden apple. We wont have to go through that for another thirty years, and by that time all the angry people will be dead anyway. The former wine merchant who staged the judgment of paris tasting, british wine journalist and author steven spurrier has gone over to the bubbly side. May 24, 2016 b efore 1976, the words judgment of paris called to mind a story in greek mythology. The story of the judgement was also well told and highly interesting. This is an excellent, comprehensive book, written by the only reporter at the event, covers every imaginable angle of the wines and participants in the wine tasting, later dubbed judgement in paris. 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. If ever there was a wine themed cinderella story, it would have to be the 1976 paris tasting, also known somewhat satirically as the judgment of paris. Dec 06, 2019 it all started with a phone call, in 1994 or thereabouts. It is certainly the best wine book i have ever read and would say certainly in top 5 books ever read.
I am a huge fan of the movie bottle shock, so i had high expectations for this book. Where does american wine stand 40 years after judgment of. France and the historic 1976 paris tasting that revolutionized wine by. James laube, wine spectator taber tells the tale with the same authority, depth, and clarity as the american wines that won.
An intoxicating indulgence for sideways fans, and an education for wouldbe wine sophisticates. The judgment of paris on may 24, 1976, a wine tasting took place in paris that changed the worlds view of california wines forever. But the most eagerly awaited judgment of paris recreation is the one being held todayan event. The re judgment of paris results in california landslide. 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. It is chockfull of details, and in parts excessively so, the information at times verging on gossip. 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.
Among the highpeaked hills of the haimonians, the marriage song of peleus was being sung while, at the bidding of zeus, ganymede poured the wine. The judgement of paris, with names added 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 strong. 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. Why the judgment of paris really matters and why it doesn. Housed in a frenchstyle, ivycovered chateau built in 1882, the estate boasts gorgeous grounds, and the winery continues to produce estate wines today. 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. Where does american wine stand 40 years after judgment of paris. 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. 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. As has been retold countless times, most recently in george m. And anyone truly interested in the history ought to read the excellent 2005 book judgment of paris by george taber, the only journalist present at the 1976 event. In 1976, shockwaves rippled through the wine world following the judgment of paris, a blind wine tasting which saw the leading wine aficionados of the day unanimously favour californian wine over their french counterparts for the first time in history. The book has been translated into nine languages, including japanese and croatian.
Smithsonian honors judgement of paris winner, founder of. 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. Warren winiarski, founder of stags leap wine cellars in napa valley, dialed up the main switchboard of the smithsonian institution, in. Spurrier recalls believing that they were determined to pick a french winner from among the reds. Today marked the 30th anniversary of the fateful judgment of paris, where european wine experts. Taber, who has written a book on this judgment of paris and its. A visit to chateau montelena allows a glimpse into napa valley history. 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. For the american wine connoisseur, george tabers judgment of paris reads like a favorite movie. Next week the smithsonian will host the winners for. Indeed he was right for i personally remember it less than fondly as a screw top jug with an equally low brow taste. Wine industry experts and influencers talk about the history and significance of the 1976 judgment of paris. On may 24, 1976, steven spurrier, a british wine merchant hoping to stoke sales at his french wine only shop, held a wine competition in paris. 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 first part is a fascinating story of the history of wine in california, and the history of how the wineries, and their wines, that were in. France and the historic 1976 paris tasting that revolutionized wine. The first half of the book was an excellent set of vignettes and histories that describe the events and people which culminated in the judgement of paris. Although we may already know the ending before we have even read the first page, watching the plot unfold provides great enjoyment nonetheless. The judgement of paris, grecoroman mosaic from antioch c2nd a. His second book, to cork or not to cork, won the jane grigson award from the international association of culinary professionals an. How to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the judgment of. France and the historic 1976 paris tasting that revolutionized wine ebook. Jan 29, 2020 as the brainchild of british wine enthusiast, steve spurrier, who owned both a small wine shop and a prestigious wine school, lacademie du vin, in the heart of paris, the blind tasting was designed to shine a bright spotlight on the quality of wines coming out of california to the french wine community and as it promptly played out, the wine. Celebration at stags leap wine cellars recalls judgment of. They ask paris, a traveling salesman, to judge the cakes they have made for the church social. France and the historic 1976 paris tasting that revolutionized wine, readers will not only learn about what happened that day at the intercontinental hotel, but also the unique history surrounding the region that knocked france off its pedestal. 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. The actual judgment of paris the blind tasting between california and french wines in paris in 1976 only occupies a few pages of this book.
The salt forty years ago, the top names in french food and wine judged a blind tasting pitting the finest french wines. Youve heard of the 1976 judgment of paris, the competition that proved to the stuffy french establishment that california, too, was capable of great wine. France and the historic 1976 paris tasting that revolutionized wine from the worlds largest community. 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. 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. At this legendary contesta blind tastinga panel of top french wine experts shocked the industry by choosing unknown california wines over frances best. Second judgement of paris film to be made wine, spirits and. Best french and california winea test that changed. Having been in the pipeline for six years, a second film based on the historic judgement of paris blind tasting is to begin filming this autumn. Tell your friends that its time to rekindle some good oldfashioned frenchamerican animosity, and that wine is the way to do it.
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. In an event that would later be dubbed the judgment of paris, the california wines included merely to serve as the. 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. On may 24, 1976, the judgment of paris pitted some of the finest wines in france. The judgement of paris in greek mythology greek legends and. The rejudgment of paris results in california landslide. The 1976 judgment of paris wine tasting the spruce. Novelist gore vidal named his 1952 book, the judgment of paris, after this story. Judgment of paris wine news newspapers books scholar jstor may 2017. Taber is the author of judgment of paris, the 2006 wine book of the year for britains decanter magazine. Fascinating characters, great locales, and a fine bouquet.
Judgment examines the historic 1976 tasting that pitted a handful of upstart california wines against the greatest wines of france, resulting in a stunning upset that created an instant paradigm shift among the wine community. I suppose at the time that is also what the french thought of american wine. The revolutionary decade that gave the world impressionism is a good book, but i would not recommend it to everyone. All this history leads up to the famous tasting in 1976, when california wines beat out french wines in a blind taste test in paris. Judgment of paris is one of the best books on california wine ive ever read. Not only an affirmation of napa, it also helped shift the paradigm by which we. 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. 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. If ever a story about wine could rise above the cooking, wine, and spirits category and find a wider public, this is it.
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