🍷 Judgment of Paris (wine)
A 1976 blind tasting in which Californian wines beat French ones.
The Judgment of Paris was a blind wine tasting held in Paris in 1976. It was organised by the English wine merchant Steven Spurrier. French experts were the judges. They did not know which wine was in front of them and judged only by taste.
The tasting compared white Burgundies and red Bordeaux with Californian wines. Unexpectedly, the Californian wines were ranked best: the Chardonnay from Château Montelena among whites and the Cabernet Sauvignon from Stag's Leap among reds. For many it came as a surprise: French wines had been considered beyond competition.
The event changed the world market. It showed that good wine can be made outside France and encouraged the growth of winemaking in California and other countries. The Judgment of Paris became the best-known example of blind tasting, whose point is that the label does not influence the score. The story was later retold in books and a film.
How it connects to Wine
🍷 Judgment of Paris (wine) → kind of → 🍷 Blind tasting → kind of → 🍷 Wine tasting → works with → 🍷 Sommelier → works with → 🍷 Wine
Links
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- 🍷 Blind tasting
Frequently asked questions
What was the Judgment of Paris?
A 1976 blind tasting in Paris where Californian wines beat French ones.
Who organised the Judgment of Paris?
The English wine merchant Steven Spurrier.
Why was the Judgment of Paris important?
It showed that great wine is made outside France and influenced winemaking worldwide.
Sources
- Wikipedia (en): Judgment of Paris (wine)
- Wikipedia (de): Weinjury von Paris
- Wikipedia (fr): Jugement de Paris (vin)
- Wikipedia (uk): Суд Парижа (вино)
- Wikidata Q1058248