The Four Paragraphs That Changed American Wine
TIME, the Judgment of Paris, and the Road to the Smithsonian
A historic blind tasting in Paris on May 24, 1976, turned the wine world on its head when California wines outshone their French counterparts, defying expectations. Nine esteemed French wine experts gathered to compare French and California wines, with confidence in French supremacy. Yet, the 1973 Château Montelena Chardonnay triumphed among whites, while the 1973 Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon claimed victory in the reds, surpassing iconic Bordeaux estates. This unexpected outco...
Claudia A.• 3 min read