What was the tasting of Paris?

The Tasting of Paris, also known as the Judgment of Paris, was a wine competition held in Paris, France on May 24, 1976. The competition was organized by Steven Spurrier, an English wine merchant, and it pitted California wines against some of the best French wines in a blind tasting. The panel of judges included some of France's top wine experts, who were asked to rate the wines based on appearance, aroma, flavor, and overall quality.

The surprise outcome of the event was that the California wines performed exceptionally well, with a 1973 Chateau Montelena Chardonnay and a 1973 Stag's Leap Wine Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon winning the first and second place respectively, in the white and red wine categories. The French wines that were expected to win, such as the Meursault and the Bordeaux, came in second and third place.

The event received significant press coverage and caused a sensation in the wine world. It was seen as a turning point for the American wine industry, as it helped to establish the reputation of American wines and challenged the traditional hierarchy of wine regions. The Tasting of Paris is considered a milestone in the history of wine, and it is credited with raising awareness of the quality of wines being produced in the United States.