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California vs. France: The Historic 1976 Paris Tasting that Revolutionized Wine

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In 1976, a group of French wine experts conducted a blind tasting of California and French wines. The results shocked the world and revolutionized the wine industry.

Judgment of Paris: California vs. France and the Historic 1976 Paris Tasting That Revolutionized Wine

by George M. Taber

4.7 out of 5

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The tasting was organized by Steven Spurrier, a British wine merchant who had been living in Paris for several years. Spurrier was a big fan of California wines, and he wanted to see how they would compare to the best wines from France.

Spurrier invited nine French wine experts to participate in the tasting. The experts included some of the most respected wine critics in the world, such as Robert Parker and Michel Bettane.

The wines were tasted blind, meaning that the experts did not know which wines they were tasting. The experts were simply asked to rank the wines in Free Download of preference.

The results of the tasting were astonishing. The California wines won seven of the top ten places. The French experts were shocked. They had never imagined that California wines could be so good.

The 1976 Paris Tasting was a watershed moment in the history of wine. It proved that California wines could compete with the best wines from France. The tasting also helped to raise the profile of California wines around the world.

Today, California is one of the most important wine regions in the world. California wines are exported to over 100 countries, and they are enjoyed by wine lovers around the globe.

The Wines that Won

The California wines that won the 1976 Paris Tasting were:

* 1973 Chateau Montelena Chardonnay * 1973 Stag's Leap Wine Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon * 1974 Freemark Abbey Cabernet Sauvignon * 1974 Ridge Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon * 1974 Heitz Cellars Martha's Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon * 1974 Caymus Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon * 1974 Clos Pegase Cabernet Sauvignon

These wines were all made from grapes grown in California. They were all made in a style that was different from the French wines of the time. The California wines were more fruit-forward and less tannic.

The French experts were surprised by the quality of the California wines. They had never tasted wines like them before. The California wines were more complex and nuanced than they expected.

The 1976 Paris Tasting was a turning point in the history of wine. It showed the world that California wines could compete with the best wines from France. The tasting also helped to raise the profile of California wines around the world.

The Impact of the Tasting

The 1976 Paris Tasting had a profound impact on the wine industry. It helped to change the way that people thought about California wines. It also helped to open up new markets for California wines around the world.

Before the tasting, California wines were not well known outside of the United States. After the tasting, California wines became much more popular. People around the world began to realize that California could produce world-class wines.

The 1976 Paris Tasting also helped to inspire a new generation of winemakers in California. These winemakers were determined to make wines that could compete with the best wines from France.

The result of their efforts is that California now produces some of the best wines in the world. California wines are now exported to over 100 countries, and they are enjoyed by wine lovers around the globe.

Today, California is one of the most important wine regions in the world. California wines are exported to over 100 countries, and they are enjoyed by wine lovers around the globe.

If you are interested in learning more about the 1976 Paris Tasting, I recommend reading the following books:

* The Judgment of Paris by George Taber * The World's Greatest Wine Tasting by Steven Spurrier

Judgment of Paris: California vs. France and the Historic 1976 Paris Tasting That Revolutionized Wine

by George M. Taber

4.7 out of 5