On May 24, 1976, a small blind tasting in Paris quietly ended the belief that the world’s best wine could come only from France. Organized by British wine merchant Steven Spurrier, the event — later dubbed the Judgment of Paris — pitted upstart California bottles against France’s finest before an all-French panel of judges. When the scores were tallied, California wines topped both the red and white categories, and the wine world was never the same.
- The Judgment of Paris was a blind tasting held in Paris on May 24, 1976.
- California’s 1973 Chateau Montelena (Chardonnay) and 1973 Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars (Cabernet) finished first.
- Nine respected French experts judged; the only journalist present was George M. Taber of Time.
- The result broke France’s perceived monopoly on fine wine and launched the modern New World era.
What was the Judgment of Paris?
The Judgment of Paris was a comparative blind tasting organized to mark the United States Bicentennial. Spurrier, who ran a wine shop and school in Paris, assembled two flights: six California Chardonnays against four white Burgundies, and six California Cabernet Sauvignons against four red Bordeaux. The French panel scored each wine on a 20-point scale without knowing its origin — confident the French wines would win handily.
“Not since the Boston Tea Party had a few bottles caused such a stir.”
The nine judges
Spurrier recruited nine of the most respected names in French gastronomy, including sommeliers from leading Paris restaurants and Odette Kahn, editor of La Revue du vin de France. Their French credentials are exactly what made the outcome so hard to dismiss — these were the people least likely to favor American wine.
The result that shocked the wine world
When the marks were added up, a California wine led each flight: the 1973 Chateau Montelena Chardonnay and the 1973 Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon. France’s most celebrated estates had been beaten by wineries barely a few years old.
| Flight | 1st place | Origin |
|---|---|---|
| White (Chardonnay) | 1973 Chateau Montelena | Napa Valley, California |
| Red (Cabernet) | 1973 Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars | Napa Valley, California |
One reporter, one story, a global earthquake
Only one journalist bothered to attend: George M. Taber of Time. His brief dispatch ran in the July 7, 1976 issue — reportedly buried on page 58 — yet it detonated worldwide. Without Taber, the tasting might have vanished into footnote history; instead it became the founding myth of New World wine.
Why it still matters
The Judgment of Paris dismantled the assumption that terroir and tradition made European wine inherently superior. It gave California — and soon Oregon, Australia, Chile, and South Africa — permission to compete on the world stage. Half a century later, it remains the single most cited turning point in modern wine history.
Quick Facts
- Date: May 24, 1976
- Organizer: Steven Spurrier (with Patricia Gallagher)
- Format: blind tasting, 20-point scale, 9 French judges
- Winners: 1973 Chateau Montelena (white); 1973 Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars (red)
- Chronicler: George M. Taber, Time (July 7, 1976)
This Day in Wine History
May 24, 1976 — The Judgment of Paris blind tasting is held in Paris. California’s 1973 Chateau Montelena and 1973 Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars finish first, overturning the belief that fine wine comes only from France and announcing the arrival of New World wine.
July 7, 1976 — Time publishes George M. Taber’s article on the tasting, the only press account by a journalist who was in the room. The story carries the result around the world.
Frequently Asked Questions
When was the Judgment of Paris?
May 24, 1976, in Paris, France.
Which wines won?
The 1973 Chateau Montelena Chardonnay (white) and the 1973 Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon (red), both from Napa Valley.
Who organized it?
British wine merchant Steven Spurrier, with his colleague Patricia Gallagher.
Why was it so important?
It was the first time respected French judges, in a blind tasting, ranked California wines above France’s best — ending the assumption that fine wine could only come from Europe.
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References
- George M. Taber, Judgment of Paris: California vs. France and the Historic 1976 Paris Tasting (Scribner, 2005); The Oxford Companion to Wine, 4th ed..
- “Best French and California Wine — A Test That Changed a World,” Time.
- “The Blind Taste Test That Decanted the Wine World,” NPR.
- “Smithsonian Commemorates the 40th Anniversary of the Judgment of Paris,” Smithsonian Institution.
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