Today, in addition to being a wine writer and consultant, he is the proprietor of a 10hectare vineyard at his farm in dorset. A new film inspired by george tabers judgment of paris book is currently being produced. The judgment of paris hard to find wines hard to find. 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 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. The passes allow holders to participate in one special tasting at each of the wineries.
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. The judgment of paris hard to find wines hard to find wines. The account in the judgement of paris by george tabor is wellwritten. The judgment of paris forever changed the california wine trade. 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. May 24, 2016 the judgment of paris, as that may 24, 1976, wine tasting has come to be known, began as a publicity stunt. Wilfred jaeger, a wine panel judge, checks a glass of wine for aromas before tasting during the 30th anniversary of the judgement of paris. May 24, 2016 marks the 40th anniversary of the judgment of paris, the day that california officially rocked the wine world. 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. Woodberry wine is a distributor of exceptional, high value wines from both the united states and around the world. The judgment of paris, as that may 24, 1976, wine tasting has come to be known, began as a publicity stunt.
George m tabers book judgment of paris, a tangible reminder of the fateful. 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 judgment of paris the revolutionary era that gave the world impressionism by. He had no idea his 2 hr tasting would unleash a revolution in the wine industry. 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. 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. 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. 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.
Two of the bottles from that tasting are in the smithsonian institution in washington. Tell your friends that its time to rekindle some good oldfashioned frenchamerican animosity, and. France and the historic 1976 tasting that revolutionized wine taber, 2005. France and the historic 1976 paris tasting that revolutionized wine from the worlds largest community. 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. Taber is the author of judgment of paris, the 2006 wine book of the year for britains decanter magazine. The most notable recreation was the 30 th anniversary of the judgement of paris held in 2006, again organised by spurrier. Tell your friends that its time to rekindle some good oldfashioned frenchamerican animosity, and that wine is the way to do it. This wine competition, organized by stephen spurrier a british wine merchant, included two blind tastings carried out by french judges. 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. Spurrier gathered nine expert judges, all of them french, for a headtohead blind tasting of the best of bordeaux and. Forty years ago, the top names in french food and wine judged a blind. 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. Housed in a frenchstyle, ivycovered chateau built in 1882, the estate boasts gorgeous grounds, and the winery continues to produce estate wines today.
The wine concerned wasnt napa valleys stags leap it was 1949 mcdonalds cabernet sauvignon, from the church road winery in new zealands. Our expert and knowledgeable staff are committed to becoming our clients favorite supplier. France and the historic 1976 paris tasting that revolutionized wine. 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. Back on may 24th of 1976 they held the famous infamous wine tasting in paris, sometimes known as the judgment of paris.
At the 1976 tasting, napa valley wines famously trumped those of. 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. A second film judgment of paris, based on george tabers book of the same name was in the works, and there has been. 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. One tasting involved top quality chardonnay and the other bordeaux versus california cabernet sauvignon.
The paris tasting of 1976 will forever be remembered as the landmark event that transformed the wine industry. Youll also probably quit your job, buy a house in napa and start dabbling in the wine business. The judgement of paris about the 1976 paris wine tasting. Steven spurrier, an englishman who owned a wine shop in paris, wanted to drum up business. 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. In this book, the author fondly remembers their many professional encounters in the 25 years that followed.
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 1976 judgment of paris wine tasting changed all that. 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. I wasnt really drinking wine at that time but on rare occasions. 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. 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. Where does american wine stand 40 years after judgment of.
The judgment of paris, as that may 24, 1976, wine tasting has come to be. Today, you can taste that history by visiting four wineries with deep connections to this historic. Dubbed the judgment of paris, the event put napa valley among the worlds great wine regions. Time magazines report on the judgment of paris rjs. At this legendary contest a blind tasting a panel of top french wine experts shocked the industry by choosing unknown california wine. May 24, 2012 steven spurrier has unveiled an extraordinary new painting a huge canvas of the legendary 1976 judgement of paris.
France and the historic 1976 paris tasting that revolutionized wine george m. 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. 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 changed the way new world wineries perceived themselves, and heralded the growth of the current global wine market. California wines won in both categories, putting the napa valley on the map. Oct 20, 2014 is french wine really the best in the world, or does california wine give it a run for its money. It also helped to illuminate why local wine producers consider this tasting to have been so consequential for the california wine industry. 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. 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. A judgement of parisinspired wset wine course how to. The judgement of paris will always be seen as the turning point for the napa valley. Next week the smithsonian will host the winners for. Steven spurrier has unveiled an extraordinary new painting a huge canvas of the legendary 1976 judgement of paris. Spurrier unveils judgement of paris canvas at the vineyard.
Is french wine really the best in the world, or does california wine give it a run for its money. Only four paragraphs reported the event in time magazine, but the event itself changed forever the perception of california wines. Chefs jeremiah tower and nancy silverton host judgement of paris legends dinner. 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. 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. Taber, has followed this excellent factual documentary text with another great book which i highly recommend. 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. Napa wineries offer judgement of paris wine tour decanter. France and the historic 1976 paris tasting that revolutionized wine ebook. How to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the judgment of paris. France and the historic 1976 paris tasting that revolutionized wine bulk, wholesale. 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. In the late 1970s spurrier was a young wine merchant in paris. May 24, 2016 may 24, 2016 marks the 40th anniversary of the judgment of paris, the day that california officially rocked the wine world.
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. 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. May 27, 2016 taber later compiled the experience in his book. 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. Before the paris tasting, there were approximately 67 wineries in the napa valley. The man behind the judgment of paris winesearcher news. 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. This event took place with simultaneous tastings in napa. The event has spawned a book judgment of paris, a previous movie bottle shock, and 10 th, 20 th, and 30 th anniversary reenactments. You can arrange a picnic, but book a table in advance. A visit to chateau montelena allows a glimpse into napa valley history. One tasting involved top quality chardonnay and the other.
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