In it, the three goddesses have been reduced to three town biddies in smalltown washington state. The revolutionary decade that gave the world impressionism, leonardo and the last supper, mad enchantment. Second judgement of paris film to be made wine, spirits and. 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. 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. 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. 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 1976 judgment of paris wine tasting changed all that. Unfortunately, helen is the wife of menelaus, king of sparta, so when paris makes off with his prize, the trojan war quickly follows after. Tabers book has inspired a number of commemorative tastings in the leadup to the anniversary.
How much you enjoy judgment of paris depends a lot on what you want to get out of it. May 24, 2006 tabers book has inspired a number of commemorative tastings in the leadup to the anniversary. 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. Dubbed the judgment of paris, the event put napa valley among the worlds great wine regions. Peleus was a noted hero of greek mythology, and thetis was a nereid nymph, zeus having married off the nymph to. 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. But the most eagerly awaited judgment of paris recreation is the one being held todayan event. View fullsize 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. The judgement of paris is a story from greek mythology, which was one of the events that led up to the trojan war and in slightly later versions of the story to the foundation of rome. 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 judgment of paris tasting received an avalanche of press in the us, and it was no wonder. Where does american wine stand 40 years after judgment of. Novelist gore vidal named his 1952 book, the judgment of paris, after this story. 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 and was a finalist for the james beard foundation award for best book on wine. The story of the great cathedral in florence, michelangelo and the popes ceiling, the judgment of paris.
The wedding in question was that of peleus and thetis. 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. Steven spurrier, an englishman who owned a wine shop in paris, wanted to drum. William echikson, author of noble rot the judgment of paris is a fascinating recounting of that historic. In 2005, taber wrote a book on the event, with the goal of setting the record straight.
The job of beauty contest judge falls on paris of troy, who decides that aphrodite is the fairest after she promises him the hand of helen of sparta. Although we may already know the ending before we have even read the first page, watching the plot unfold provides great enjoyment nonetheless. Ross king is the bestselling author of brunelleschis dome. With chris pine, alan rickman, bill pullman, hal b.
France and the historic 1976 paris tasting that revolutionized wine. Taber, who has written a book on this judgment of paris and its. France and the historic 1976 paris tasting that revolutionized wine ebook. Wine industry experts and influencers talk about the history and significance of the 1976 judgment of paris. May 24, 2016 b efore 1976, the words judgment of paris called to mind a story in greek mythology. The judgment of paris, this time at home the new york times. Housed in a frenchstyle, ivycovered chateau built in 1882, the estate boasts gorgeous grounds, and the winery continues to produce estate wines today. The smell the of weed on him, not but as heavily she on expected. In this competition french judges were invited to blindtaste top chardonnays and cabernet sauvignons from france and california. On may 24, 1976, a wine tasting took place in paris that changed the worlds view of california wines forever. California wine culture and the ongoing battle for the best title.
Judgment of paris wine news newspapers books scholar jstor may 2017. He is also the founder of the academie du vin and christies wine. Steven spurrier, an english wine merchant transplanted to paris, shared some of that prejudice, but he allowed himself to be pleasantly surprised when journalists and winemakers cajoled him to try some of the new breed of california varietals, which went far beyond what screwtop paul masson wines offer. At this legendary contesta blind tastinga panel of top french wine experts shocked the industry by choosing unknown california wines over. The judgement of paris was burlesqued in the 1954 musical the golden apple. Jan 29, 2020 in what began as a fairly lowprofile tasting so far as the media was concerned, ended up rocking the wine world right out of its orbit with a nowhistoric times, piece entitled, judgment of paris, written by george taber, the sole journalist onsite and later made into a fullfledged book by the same name. A new era of california wine on may 24th, 1976, steven spurrier, an englishman running a wine shop and wine school in paris. Most of the book, however, focuses on the france vs.
As a wine person who is very familiar with the ca style in particular, it was a fascinating read, particularly because i could picture some of the wineries in napa an pete got me this book. A visit to chateau montelena allows a glimpse into napa valley history. Dec 06, 2019 as part of the event, winiarski donated a bottle of his 1973 stags leap wine cellars slv cabernet sauvignon, the topscoring red wine in the paris tasting, to the museums collection. The judgement of paris about the 1976 paris wine tasting. Why the judgment of paris really matters and why it doesn. They ask paris, a traveling salesman, to judge the cakes they have made for the church social. James laube, wine spectator taber tells the tale with the same authority, depth, and clarity as the american wines that. 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. It was 40 years ago that napa valley wines went up against the best france. The revolutionary decade that gave the world impressionism is a good book, but i would not recommend it to everyone. Aug 24, 2016 it is perhaps worth noting here that at the time of the judgment of paris the summing of scores may well have been the normal procedure for wine tastings, as suggested by george taber in his book. Taber is the author of judgment of paris, the 2006 wine book of the year for britains decanter magazine. It is chockfull of details, and in parts excessively so, the information at times verging on gossip. 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.
On may 24, 1976, the judgment of paris pitted some of the finest wines in france against unknown california bottles in a blind taste test. May 24, 2016 the judgment of paris, as that may 24, 1976, wine tasting has come to be known, began as a publicity stunt. This is a rare book about wine to be sipped, not gulped. Paris, son of a king, is asked to decide which goddess is the fairest.
For the american wine connoisseur, george tabers judgment of paris reads like a favorite movie. 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. When his grandson asks him why he is famous, wine writer steven spurrier shows him george m tabers book judgment of paris, a tangible. Claude monet and the painting of the water lilies and others. 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. The rejudgment of paris results in california landslide.
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. Why we no longer have the data from the judgment of paris. The account in the judgement of paris by george tabor is wellwritten, factual as i recall the events and captures some of the ferment no pun intended of 1970s california wine making. The judgment of paris, as that may 24, 1976, wine tasting has come to. As has been retold countless times, most recently in george m. The judgement of paris was ultimately a beauty contest between the goddesses aphrodite, hera and athena, but the cause of the beauty contest was due to events at a wedding. The judgment of paris goodreads meet your next favorite book. 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. 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. 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. B efore 1976, the words judgment of paris called to mind a story in greek mythology.
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. The hidden figures behind the judgment of paris many retellings of california wine s most popular myth omit the women who made the judgment of paris happen esther mobley oct. 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 first part is a fascinating story of the history of wine. Taber, the only writer present at the tasting, described the production of the data in his 2005 book judgment of paris. Today, you can taste that history by visiting four wineries with deep connections to this historic. The judgement of paris will always be seen as the turning point for the napa valley. 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 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. Judgment of paris is one of the best books on california wine ive ever read. 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 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. Taber is the author of judgment of paris, the 2006 wine book of the.
This tuesday, may 24, marks the 40th anniversary of the competitive tasting in which napa wines beat out their french counterparts. 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. In an event that would later be dubbed the judgment of paris. 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.
Smithsonian honors judgement of paris winner, founder of. 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. At this legendary contesta blind tastinga panel of top french wine experts shocked the industry by choosing unknown california wines over frances best. But the most eagerly awaited judgment of paris recreation is the one being held. It was the most expensive bottle of wine ever sold. Why the judgment of paris really matters and why it doesnt. Accommodation judgement of paris wine book to difficult find, the one hotel good.
France and the historic 1976 paris tasting that revolutionized wine, readers will not only learn about what happened that day at the intercontinental. This historic tasting not only garnered prestige for california wines, it. This meeting has become known as the judgment of paris. 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. It was a different time when it was possible to meet and get to know for the purchase of a halfdozen bottles of wine some of the greats. This historic wine tasting has become a landmark event for the california wine. His work has won the rbc taylor prize, and been nominated for. Best french and california winea test that changed a world. 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. Judgement of paris fermented grape the world of wine. It is certainly the best wine book i have ever read and would say certainly in top 5 books ever read. The judgment of paris, as that may 24, 1976, wine tasting has come to be known, began as a publicity stunt.
The judgment of paris, the second and final book of odyssey duet by rebecca sharp was a timeless, poignant and elegant story of poetic love. The judgement of paris in greek mythology greek legends and. 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. The judgement of paris, grecoroman mosaic from antioch c2nd a.
Best french and california winea test that changed. Steven spurrier, an englishman who owned a wine shop in paris, wanted to drum up business. A turning point for wine thirty years ago in paris, a publicity stunt for a wine shop started a revolution for the napa valley. Steven spurrier born 1941 is a british wine expert and former merchant who has been described as a champion of french wine.
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