Who Won the Judgement of Paris?

By Anna Duncan

In the world of wine, the Judgement of Paris was a pivotal moment that changed the industry forever. This historic event took place on May 24, 1976, in Paris, France. At the time, the French were considered to be unrivaled in their winemaking skills, but this competition would prove otherwise.

The Judgement of Paris was organized by Steven Spurrier, a British wine merchant who owned a shop in Paris. The competition was designed to showcase California wines alongside French wines. It was an unprecedented event that shocked the wine world and put California wines on the map.

The competition consisted of two categories: Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon. A panel of nine judges blind tasted and rated each wine on a scale from 1 to 20.

In the Chardonnay category, a 1973 Chateau Montelena from California’s Napa Valley beat out four white Burgundies from France. This victory alone would have been significant, but it was just the beginning.

In the Cabernet Sauvignon category, another Californian wine – a 1973 Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars – narrowly beat out some of France’s most prestigious Bordeaux wines such as Mouton Rothschild and Haut-Brion.

The results were shocking to many in attendance and sent shockwaves through the industry. The American wines had not only held their own against French wines but had beaten them in blind tastings by respected judges.

The Judgement of Paris forever changed how people viewed American wines and helped put Napa Valley on the map as one of the premier winemaking regions in the world.

In conclusion, who won the Judgement of Paris? It wasn’t just one winery or region – it was an entire country that came out on top.

The results proved that American winemakers could produce world-class wines that could compete with – and even outshine – the best wines of France. The legacy of the Judgement of Paris lives on, and it continues to inspire winemakers around the world to push boundaries and strive for excellence in their craft.