The (Second) Judgment of Paris – The Real Story in the Making

September brings with it the cool nights and warm days of harvest, the process of crushing and fermenting of grapes into wine, and this year, the beginnings of a story to “set the record straight.”

This month, the second movie about the legendary Judgment of Paris begins shooting. The first movie, based loosely around the Paris Wine Tasting of 1976 was Bottle Shock, released in 2008. Made in the comedy-drama format, former Times reporter George Taber and British wine authority Steven Spurrier have said that the movie was not factual, and according to Spurrier, contained “many, many pure inventions.”

Judgement of Paris

After five long years, Spurrier and Taber will get to tell the real story of the blind wine tasting, held 37 years ago in Paris, that transformed the wine industry forever.

Steven Spurrier

In 1976, Spurrier was a British wine merchant in Paris who supported and promoted French wines. He organized the Paris Wine Tasting as a means to promote these wines around the world. The “best of the best” in the French wine world were invited for a gala tasting in May at the Inter-Continental Hotel in Paris.

Winemaker Mike Grgich

In Order of Prefrence

A total of nine judges from the French wine industry took part comparing four white Burgundies against six California Chardonnays and ranking them in order of preference. When the judging was completed and the scores tallied, the top ranking white wine was a 1973 Chardonnay from Chateau Montelena in California, crafted by winemaker, Mike Grgich.

Warren Winiarski

In Order of Preference

In the red wine category, four red Bordeaux’s were compared to six California Cabernets, again in a blind tasting. After the scores were collected, a 1973 Cabernet

Sauvignon from Stag’s Leap in California was found to be superior to the French wines. The wine was made by Stag’s Leap owner and winemaker, Warren Winiarski.

George Taber

French Judges

George Taber was a journalist for Time magazine in 1976 and the only reporter who attended and reported on the blind wine tasting and its astounding outcome - that U.S. wines had defeated France’s most renowned wines for both top positions!

The French refused to take the results seriously. They immediately began casting doubt on the competition, claiming that the French wines Spurrier had selected had been too young or of poor quality.

But when Taber’s story, Judgment of Paris, appeared in the June 7, 1976 edition of Time magazine, it was the turning point for California wines. This blind tasting showed that the French had acknowledged winemakers in America could make world-class wines. It was the end of the reign of French wines as superior to all others, and revolutionized the wine industry throughout the world.

1976 Judging

The Paris Wine Tasting of 1976 has been duplicated all over the world. All of the judging’s held since then have ended with similar results. 

Taber's Book

In 2005, Taber wrote a book, “Judgment of Paris: California vs. France and the Historic 1976 Paris Tasting that Revolutionized Wine". It was published in 2006 by Scribner. Taber had  decided it was time to set the record straight.

Robert Kamen

Now, it looks like a movie, based on Taber’s account, will finally be made. Robert Kamen, a Hollywood screenwriter, wrote the screenplay. He’s also written Lethal Weapon 3, The Karate Kid 1, 2 and 3, and A Walk in the Clouds (another wine movie.) 

Tom Hiddlestone

Italian businessman Jonathan Rotella will produce the movie with backing from Steven

Spurrier, one of the original participants in the event.

Rumors abound that English-born Tom Hiddlestone may play Spurrier in the movie.

Warren Winiarski

The film will focus on Polish-born Warren Winiarski, the winemaker from Stag’s Leap, and his dream to craft award winning wines in California. When he and Steven Spurrier meet, Spurrier is striving to be a well-known Paris wine retailer. The two begin working together and both realize their dreams.

While I enjoyed the movie Bottle Shock (give me a romantic story about an underdog and wine, and I’ll toast it every time), it’s time for the full story about the competition to be told by those who were there.

Which makes you wonder - what if George Taber had not been present at the judging that day in May? How long would it have taken for the wine world to evolve to where it is today?

June 7, 1976 Cover

After all, it was this four-paragraph article in the Modern Living section of Time magazine that has helped to usher in changes, and assist in advancing the wine industry to where it is today.

No release date has been set for the movie Judgment of Paris, but if you want to celebrate with a bottle of one of the winners, when the film comes out, be prepared.

One of the few remaining bottles of Chateau Montelena Chardonnay sold at auction in 2010 for $11,325. A bottle of Stag’s Leap 1973 S.L.V. Cabernet Sauvignon now brings over $10,000, if you can find it.

 

But it would be money well spent because, not only are these bottles of historical significance; apparently, they cellar well…

~ Joy

Winding Down with a Wine Movie

Wine drinkers are usually romantics at heart. We love the history, the legacy, the terroir of the grapes.  We’re swept away by an Italian wine harvest, a Spanish wine cellar, even a sunset over a vineyard.  So it makes sense that most wine movies are romantic comedies.  Most, but not all; here are a few wine movies to consider for your Autumn viewing.

A Walk in the Clouds (1995)

A Walk in the Clouds is actually a remake of a 1942 Italian film, Four Steps in the Clouds.  It tells the story of a WW II soldier who has returned home to California after the war, determined to make a go of his hasty wartime marriage.  But fate intervenes and he meets a pregnant young woman on a train in need of assistance.  Posing as her husband so that her traditional Mexican family will not know the truth, he decides to stay at her family’s vineyard and help with the harvest.  A growing attraction develops between the couple, but there is still a wife and angry father to be dealt with, along with a raging fire.  Maybe a bit melodramatic, but nothing a brooding glass of Zinfandel won’t set right.

French Kiss (1995)

In French Kiss, wine is more of an after-thought than a star player.  The plot centers around the girl planning her wedding, when her guy goes to France and falls in love with someone else. Girl goes to France to win him back, but accidentally joins up with a petty crook who has stolen a vine cutting.  There's a lot of racing around France where confusion reigns supreme.  But all’s well that ends well - in a vineyard. Pour a lighthearted French Beaujolais Nouveau and enjoy this American romantic comedy.

Sideways (2004)

After almost ten years without a wine movie, Sideways came barreling in to theatres with very little romance, but a whole lot of wine character(s). The movie was actually adapted from a book by the same name.  Billed as a comedy-drama, the movie follows two friends as they take a weeklong road trip to the Santa Ynez Valley wineries to celebrate one’s last few days of  ‘freedom’ before his wedding. Of course, trouble ensues in the form of two wine savvy local women, and one friend’s perpetual tendency to be depressing.  The ending, while somewhat predicable, is not totally what you expect and it leaves you waiting for the sequel – Vertical to be made.

Sideways is the movie that pushed Merlot to the back of the shelf after regaling the attributes of Pinot Noir.  (Sales of Pinot went up 16% after the movie’s release.) So depending upon your alliance, pour a glass of California Pinot Noir to sip and savor, or allow yourself to be seduced by an oaky Merlot – Miles be damned!

A Good Year (2006)

A Good Year is a blend of nostalgia and fond memories, with a focus on the future.  Based on a novel by Peter Mayle, this British romantic comedy is set at a vineyard estate in Provence. When a British investment trader inherits his uncle’s estate, his life becomes even more complicated.  He also inherits a possessive vineyard manager/winemaker, an unpredictable café owner, and a long-lost cousin.  Suffice it to say the vineyard manager’s dedication, so far as to sing to his grapes, and all of that gorgeous French countryside had me at "Bon Jour."  Pour a robust French Syrah, add some cheese and olives with a hearty French bread and aimer la vie.

Bottle Shock (2008)

The movie, Bottle Shock, is based on the 1976 wine competition called the Judgment of Paris.  For the first time ever, a California wine beat out a French wine in a blind wine tasting.  The movie depicts how California wines were regarded before Napa Valley was famous, and how, with the right amount of devotion and dedication, you can craft a wine that literally speaks from the glass.  Billed as an American comedy-drama, this is a favorite of those who root for the underdog!  Pour a glass of Chateau Montelena Chardonnay (the winner in the 1976 competition,) sit back and say “Cheers” to the home team….again.

With Autumn's arrival comes cool nights, perfect for stoking up the fire, pouring your wine of choice, popping in a wine movie, and getting lost in an entertaining tale about wine.

Enjoy!

~ Joy

Cheers to National Wine Day

This Friday, May 25, 2012 is National Wine Day in the U.S.  Although the origins of the holiday are unclear, the purpose is self explanatory, a day set aside to celebrate wine!

Wine has been enjoyed throughout the world for centuries. The earliest known production of wine dates back to around 6000 BC.  Evidence was found near the boarders of what is now Georgia and Iran.  The oldest known winery was discovered in a cave in the mountains of Armenia.

The earliest wine production in Europe, dates back 6,500 years ago, and was discovered at an archaeological site in northern Greece near Macedonia.

 Wine was very common in Ancient Greece and Rome, playing an important part in religion.  Wine was known as the "Juice of the Gods.” (And rightly so ; )

For the Greeks, Dionysus was the god of wine and revelry.  Dionysus was worshipped from c. 1500 – 1100 BC.  He is a popular figure of Greek mythology and religion, and his festivals were the reason for the development of Greek theatre.

Bacchus was the god of wine for the Romans.  He reigned over the grape harvest, winemaking, and the resulting frenzied festivals that occurred.  Bacchus was believed to be a divine being who could communicate with both the living and the dead.

Apparently the Romans also knew how to bottle wine.  A 1,650 year old bottle of wine, the oldest one ever to be discovered, was found in 1867 during a dig in Speyer, Germany. It was located inside a Roman stone sarcophagus. The bottle has been on display at Germany’s History Museum of the Pfalz for over one hundred years.

During this early ‘wine period,’ winemaking technology improved tremendously in the ancient world.  The wine press underwent great changes and barrels were developed for storing and shipping wines.

 

Even in Egypt, wine played an important part in daily ceremonial life and became a part of the Egyptians recorded history.

By the Middle Ages, wine was the common drink for all social classes.  It was used for the celebration of Catholic Mass, with the Benedictine Monks producing most of the wine for this purpose.  Housewives made their own wines and served them at every meal.  Wine was watered down with 4 parts water to one part wine for everyday use.

Throughout history, Europe has always been known as the premier wine region.  In fact, American wines were looked down upon throughout the world until 36 years ago.  It was during the Paris Wine Tasting of 1976, when French wine judges selected, during two blind wine judgings, American wines as the winners in both competitions!! (See Bottle Shock, http://www.bottleshockmovie.com, the movie.) Thus began the serious consideration, and appreciation, of American wines by the rest of the world.

So plan to lift a glass and celebrate National Wine Day this Friday.  Visit Local Wine Events, http://www.localwineevents.com/ to see what’s going on in your area this weekend. Or check with local wineries and vineyards to see if they have any events planned.

Every bottle of wine has a story to tell – so this Friday, listen carefully as those celebrated grapes tell all!  And while you’re at it, rent the wine movie, Bottle Shock and celebrate the arrival of American wines on the worldwide stage – again!!

Enjoy! 

~  Joy