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. Steven spurrier, an englishman who owned a wine shop in paris, wanted to drum up business. While most of the wineries that were selected for the 1976 tasting are still open today, many folks are interested in stopping by the top takers of cabernet and chardonnay. 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. 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. The 1976 judgment of paris wine tasting changed all that.
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. Peleus was a noted hero of greek mythology, and thetis was a nereid nymph, zeus having married off the nymph to circumvent a dangerous prophecy. In 1976 chateau montelena helped put california at the forefront of the wine world. There is hardly a word that is true in the script and many. 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 judgement of paris in greek mythology greek legends. Chris pine, get wrapped up in what has become known as judgment of paris. 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. Long considered californias most famous wine region, napa valley exploded into the global spotlight following the 1976 judgment of paris, when a chateau montelena chardonnay from calistoga trounced nine other chardonnays in a blind tasting in paris, including extremely prestigious bottles from france. 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.
Housed in a frenchstyle, ivycovered chateau built in 1882, the estate boasts gorgeous grounds, and the winery continues to produce estate wines today. Kamen estate wines winemaker and scriptwriter robert kamen is one of the people behind a new movie about the judgment of paris. Mar 12, 2012 bottle shock the movie blind tasting scene judgment of paris tasting hd. Spurrier threatens action against rival judgement of paris. It talks about the history of the industry in france, and how it developed in california. I am a huge fan of the movie bottle shock, so i had high expectations for this book. Smithsonian honors judgement of paris winner, founder of. The judgement of paris was painted frequently by academic artists of the 19th century, and less often by their more progressive contemporaries such as renoir and cezanne. Wilfred jaeger, a wine panel judge, checks a glass of wine for aromas before tasting during the 30th anniversary of the judgement of paris. The judgement of paris in greek mythology greek legends and. Paris tasting in 1976 chateau montelena helped put california at the forefront of the wine world. The first, the official version, is sanctioned by spurrier himself, and george taber, who wrote the definitive version of the events 30 years ago. Why the judgment of paris really matters and why it doesn.
Jul 30, 2014 rotella productions is billing the movie. French vs californian wines the judgement of kingston. Best french and california winea test that changed. 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. Today marked the 30th anniversary of the fateful judgment of paris, where european wine. 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 about the 1976 paris wine tasting. Anonymous in 1976, steven spurrier, a sommelier in paris, comes to the napa valley to take the best he can find to paris for a blind taste test against french wine. Two films of the decanter consultant editors legendary 1976 paris tasting when american wines trounced the french in a blind tasting are being made.
Jan 17, 2008 film feud over famous wine tasting heats up. You can experience the legacies of this historic wine tasting in person when you visit the napa wineries that participated in the judgment of paris 35 years ago. The rejudgment of paris results in california landslide. Jul 27, 2007 two films of the decanter consultant editors legendary 1976 paris tasting when american wines trounced the french in a blind tasting are being made. 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. 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. In this competition french judges were invited to blindtaste top chardonnays and cabernet sauvignons from france and california. Paris, son of a king, is asked to decide which goddess is the fairest. What is the judgment of paris in relation to this movie. Thanks to a convincing showing by the handful of wineries represented at the judgment of paris tasting in 1976, the victory of napa valley and the north coast over bordeaux and burgundy signaled a new era for the california wine industry. Bill pullman plays jim barrett, a down on his luck wine maker. The producers stress that the movie judgment of paris will be the authorized version of the 1976 events, based on george tabers book of the same name.
I was into the judgement of paris even before that movie, after visiting stags leap wine cellars for the first time and then realizing that id already tasted at another, ridge. May 24, 2016 b efore 1976, the words judgment of paris called to mind a story in greek mythology. Two movies examine judgment of paris wine competition. The story of the early days of california wine making featuring the now infamous, blind paris wine tasting of 1976 that has come to be known as judgment of paris. With the help of miljenko mike grgich, the paris tasting changed norther california forever. Mike grgich filmed for upcoming judgment of paris movie. 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. With chris pine, alan rickman, bill pullman, hal b. Check out the judgment of paris trailer for a sneak peek. The wedding in question was that of peleus and thetis.
The story of a now legendary 1976 paris wine tasting gets its first hollywood treatment tomorrow night friday with the premiere of. With judgment of paris, george taber takes the reader on a journey through time, following a set of characters, sometimes through generations, who have made the wine industry what it is, or at least what it was before it started to slip. In a recreation of the paris tasting, chalone won first place at the san francisco wine tasting of 1978 against the exact same competition. The judgment of paris, as that may 24, 1976, wine tasting has come to be known, began as a publicity stunt. 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 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. When eris, goddess of strife, isnt invited to the wedding of peleus and thetis, the spiteful goddess tosses a golden apple into the crowd, with the words to the fairest written on it. Two movies examine judgment of paris wine competition table. Judgment movie finally ready to shoot winesearcher news. B efore 1976, the words judgment of paris called to mind a story in greek mythology. Where does american wine stand 40 years after judgment of. Unfortunately, helen is the wife of menelaus, king of sparta, so when paris makes off with his prize, the trojan war quickly follows after. 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 esther mobley oct. The story of the judgement was also well told and highly interesting.
They are equally keen that there is no association with 2008s bottle shock, starring alan rickman as spurrier and bill pullman as montelenas owner jim barrett. The 1976 judgement of paris left the world in shock and put napa valley on the map. Judgment of paris no clearcut decision winesearcher. 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. Passionate wine lovers globally know the story of the 1976 judgement of paris, which was a pivotal moment in the history of the wine world and. 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.
Wine industry experts and influencers talk about the history and significance of the 1976 judgment of paris. The greatest little wine story never fully told until now. Jan 29, 2020 you can experience the legacies of this historic wine tasting in person when you visit the napa wineries that participated in the judgment of paris 35 years ago. Judgement of paris with sir peter michael, steven spurrier and gary myatt duration. We wont have to go through that for another thirty years, and by that time all the angry people will be dead anyway. Second judgement of paris film to be made wine, spirits and. Peleus was a noted hero of greek mythology, and thetis was a nereid nymph, zeus having married off the nymph to. 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 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. 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.
Mike grgich filmed as part of upcoming judgment of paris. 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. On may 24, 1976, steven spurrier, a british wine merchant hoping to stoke sales at his frenchwineonly shop, held a wine competition in paris. This month, the second movie about the legendary judgment of paris begins shooting. Bottle shock the movie blind tasting scene judgment. Judgement of paris the movie is being coproduced by jonathan rotella, entrepreneur, philanthropist and longtime fan of grgich hills estate wines, and is based on george tabers book, judgment of paris, about the historic 1976 paris tasting that revolutionized the wine world. A visit to chateau montelena allows a glimpse into napa valley history. Chefs jeremiah tower and nancy silverton host judgement of paris legends dinner. Next week the smithsonian will host the winners for. On may 24, 1976, a wine tasting took place in paris that changed the worlds view of california wines forever. The judges were much more united in their judgement of the white wines six of the judges gave a top score to the chateau montelena, and three to the chalone. 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. The judgment of paris changed the way new world wineries perceived themselves, and heralded the growth of the current global wine market.
The judgement of paris, grecoroman mosaic from antioch c2nd a. 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. Bottle shock is a 2008 american comedydrama film based on the 1976 wine competition termed the judgment of paris, when california wine defeated french wine. But for the next few months, there are going to be some really angry people. 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 esther mobley oct. That year a whoswho of the french wine and food establishment gathered for a grand tasting at the intercontinental hotel in paris.
The first movie, based loosely around the paris wine tasting of 1976 was bottle shock, released in 2008. The event has spawned a book judgment of paris, a previous movie bottle shock, and 10 th, 20 th, and 30 th anniversary reenactments. Four white burgundies were tasted against six california chardonnays. The 1976 paris tasting, or judgment of paris as it became known, had a revolutionary effect, like a vinous shot heard round the world. Apr 06, 2016 wine industry experts and influencers talk about the history and significance of the 1976 judgment of paris. As part of the event, winiarski donated a bottle of his 1973 stags leap wine cellars slv cabernet sauvignon, the topscoring red wine in.
Bottle shock the movie blind tasting scene judgment of. In an event that would later be dubbed the judgment of paris, the california wines included merely to serve as the. 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. Spurrier discovered chateau montelena and stags leap wine cellars, the napa valley wineries that won the competition. The david bruce chardonnay was unanimously judged to be the worst wine of the whole tasting. May 24, 2016 the judgment of paris, as that may 24, 1976, wine tasting has come to be known, began as a publicity stunt.
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