Judgment of Paris: California vs. France and the Historic 1976 Paris Tasting That Revolutionized Wine
Product Description
The Paris Tasting of 1976 will forever be remembered as the landmark event that transformed the wine industry. At this legendary contest — a blind tasting — a panel of top French wine experts shocked the industry by choosing unknown California wines over France’s best.PGeorge M. Taber, the only reporter present, recounts this seminal contest and its far-reaching effects, focusing on three gifted unknowns behind the winning wines: a college lecturer, a real estate lawyer, and a Yugoslavian immigrant. With unique access to the main players and a contagious passion for his subject, Taber renders this historic event and its tremendous aftershocks — repositioning the industry and sparking a golden age for viticulture across the globe. With an eclectic cast of characters and magnificent settings, IJudgment of Paris/i is an illuminating tale and a story of the entrepreneurial spirit of the new world conquering the old.
Average Customer Rating
Reviewed by :-
J. Wesling (San Diego)
Enjoy your wine more with a dose of history
br /This book is so informative, full of facts, details and historical events, that you will learn much more than you expected. I thought it would be dry and dull; on the contrary it is so well-written that the pages fly by. You won’t be disappointed with this book.
Reviewed by :-
K. Cousins (United States)
As much about winemaking as the 1976 tasting
This was a fascinating, highly informative book. The only reason I do not give it 5 stars is because, like other reviewers here, I think it cold have gone through another round of editing. Still, a great read.
Reviewed by :-
D. Wolf (Fairfax, VA USA)
A Facinating Bit of Wine History
Taber does a very good job telling the story of the famous 1976 wine tasting that included both top American and French wines. What he does especially well is provide context about the event and the history leading up to it. The book presents an overview the history of wine in both France and California, and including some of the individual stories of the California winemakers which is key to understanding the significance of the results of the tasting and makes the story more personal. Taber also demystifies the event which has been over analyzed and told in a charming but highly inaccurate movie, Bottle Shock. The tasting took place over two hours and was witnessed by only one reporter – Taber. Some reviewers of the book complain that there is too little written about the tasting event. The reason for that is pretty simple. Some experts convened, tasted, voted, and left. It was all over in a rush and there wasn’t much to report about the activities of that short period.br /br /What Taber does particularly well is explain that the tasting was not intended as an “us versus them” contest, but as one wine merchant’s means of helping market US wines in France by having French wine experts recognize the quality of California wines. It was the reaction of the public afterward that gave the tasting its unintended significance. br /br /The real message of the book is that the sharing of information and collaboration of winemakers around the world, modeled after the experience of the Californians, has helped widen the production of good wine globally. Countries such as South Africa, Australia, and Chile have quickly become major producers of very drinkable wine. While some bemoan the globalization (some call it Parkerization) of wine, Taber points out that there are still new producers such as those in Portugal who are creating great new wines using unusual local varietals. While some of the bad domestic wines will be replaced by those of major producers such as Australia’s Yellow Tail, that may not always be a bad thing.br /br /The reason for rating the book 4 stars instead of 5 is that some of the writing is choppy and repetitive (how many times do we need to be told about the wine making process and the importance of malolactic fermentation?). Don’t let this discourage you. Most of the book is well written, and the stories of some of the individual winemakers are fascinating.br /br /I think I’ll go have a glass of wine now and relax.br /br /
Reviewed by :-
Marco Roman (Belo Horizonte – Brasil)
Good, could be better
I knew a little bit of the history of the Paris judgment. Since this book is told by someone present there, it is the most reliable source of information. I think the history is very interesting on itself. I just though the author could do better… He takes a lot of pages on the story of the wine makers, which is interesting but too much detailed. The judgement itself has much less space, and I think the author could have taken it longer. After the judgment and its repercussion the author takes a lot more on considerations on all world regions…br /It is all interesting, but I had bought the book for the Paris judgement, not for the author’s opinion on South African wines.
Reviewed by :-
Brian J. Kile ()
Judgment of Paris: California vs. France and the Historic 1976 Paris Tasting That Revolutionized Wine
Loved the historical recount of the land, the wineries and the wine makers, didn’t love the superfluous progression of modern wine closing chapters.
New Prices From :- $5.18 (last updated 25/08/2010@16:08:15)
Reviewed by :-
J. Wesling( San Diego )
Enjoy your wine more with a dose of history
br /This book is so informative, full of facts, details and historical events, that you will learn much more than you expected. I thought it would be dry and dull; on the contrary it is so well-written that the pages fly by. You won’t be disappointed with this book.
Reviewed by :-
K. Cousins( United States )
As much about winemaking as the 1976 tasting
This was a fascinating, highly informative book. The only reason I do not give it 5 stars is because, like other reviewers here, I think it cold have gone through another round of editing. Still, a great read.
Reviewed by :-
D. Wolf( Fairfax, VA USA )
A Facinating Bit of Wine History
Taber does a very good job telling the story of the famous 1976 wine tasting that included both top American and French wines. What he does especially well is provide context about the event and the history leading up to it. The book presents an overview the history of wine in both France and California, and including some of the individual stories of the California winemakers which is key to understanding the significance of the results of the tasting and makes the story more personal. Taber also demystifies the event which has been over analyzed and told in a charming but highly inaccurate movie, Bottle Shock. The tasting took place over two hours and was witnessed by only one reporter – Taber. Some reviewers of the book complain that there is too little written about the tasting event. The reason for that is pretty simple. Some experts convened, tasted, voted, and left. It was all over in a rush and there wasn’t much to report about the activities of that short period.br /br /What Taber does particularly well is explain that the tasting was not intended as an “us versus them” contest, but as one wine merchant’s means of helping market US wines in France by having French wine experts recognize the quality of California wines. It was the reaction of the public afterward that gave the tasting its unintended significance. br /br /The real message of the book is that the sharing of information and collaboration of winemakers around the world, modeled after the experience of the Californians, has helped widen the production of good wine globally. Countries such as South Africa, Australia, and Chile have quickly become major producers of very drinkable wine. While some bemoan the globalization (some call it Parkerization) of wine, Taber points out that there are still new producers such as those in Portugal who are creating great new wines using unusual local varietals. While some of the bad domestic wines will be replaced by those of major producers such as Australia’s Yellow Tail, that may not always be a bad thing.br /br /The reason for rating the book 4 stars instead of 5 is that some of the writing is choppy and repetitive (how many times do we need to be told about the wine making process and the importance of malolactic fermentation?). Don’t let this discourage you. Most of the book is well written, and the stories of some of the individual winemakers are fascinating.br /br /I think I’ll go have a glass of wine now and relax.br /br /
Reviewed by :-
Marco Roman( Belo Horizonte – Brasil )
Good, could be better
I knew a little bit of the history of the Paris judgment. Since this book is told by someone present there, it is the most reliable source of information. I think the history is very interesting on itself. I just though the author could do better… He takes a lot of pages on the story of the wine makers, which is interesting but too much detailed. The judgement itself has much less space, and I think the author could have taken it longer. After the judgment and its repercussion the author takes a lot more on considerations on all world regions…br /It is all interesting, but I had bought the book for the Paris judgement, not for the author’s opinion on South African wines.
Reviewed by :-
Brian J. Kile
Judgment of Paris: California vs. France and the Historic 1976 Paris Tasting That Revolutionized Wine
Loved the historical recount of the land, the wineries and the wine makers, didn’t love the superfluous progression of modern wine closing chapters.
Reviewed by :-
J. Wesling( San Diego )
Enjoy your wine more with a dose of history
br /This book is so informative, full of facts, details and historical events, that you will learn much more than you expected. I thought it would be dry and dull; on the contrary it is so well-written that the pages fly by. You won’t be disappointed with this book.
Reviewed by :-
K. Cousins( United States )
As much about winemaking as the 1976 tasting
This was a fascinating, highly informative book. The only reason I do not give it 5 stars is because, like other reviewers here, I think it cold have gone through another round of editing. Still, a great read.
Reviewed by :-
D. Wolf( Fairfax, VA USA )
A Facinating Bit of Wine History
Taber does a very good job telling the story of the famous 1976 wine tasting that included both top American and French wines. What he does especially well is provide context about the event and the history leading up to it. The book presents an overview the history of wine in both France and California, and including some of the individual stories of the California winemakers which is key to understanding the significance of the results of the tasting and makes the story more personal. Taber also demystifies the event which has been over analyzed and told in a charming but highly inaccurate movie, Bottle Shock. The tasting took place over two hours and was witnessed by only one reporter – Taber. Some reviewers of the book complain that there is too little written about the tasting event. The reason for that is pretty simple. Some experts convened, tasted, voted, and left. It was all over in a rush and there wasn’t much to report about the activities of that short period.br /br /What Taber does particularly well is explain that the tasting was not intended as an “us versus them” contest, but as one wine merchant’s means of helping market US wines in France by having French wine experts recognize the quality of California wines. It was the reaction of the public afterward that gave the tasting its unintended significance. br /br /The real message of the book is that the sharing of information and collaboration of winemakers around the world, modeled after the experience of the Californians, has helped widen the production of good wine globally. Countries such as South Africa, Australia, and Chile have quickly become major producers of very drinkable wine. While some bemoan the globalization (some call it Parkerization) of wine, Taber points out that there are still new producers such as those in Portugal who are creating great new wines using unusual local varietals. While some of the bad domestic wines will be replaced by those of major producers such as Australia’s Yellow Tail, that may not always be a bad thing.br /br /The reason for rating the book 4 stars instead of 5 is that some of the writing is choppy and repetitive (how many times do we need to be told about the wine making process and the importance of malolactic fermentation?). Don’t let this discourage you. Most of the book is well written, and the stories of some of the individual winemakers are fascinating.br /br /I think I’ll go have a glass of wine now and relax.br /br /
Reviewed by :-
Marco Roman( Belo Horizonte – Brasil )
Good, could be better
I knew a little bit of the history of the Paris judgment. Since this book is told by someone present there, it is the most reliable source of information. I think the history is very interesting on itself. I just though the author could do better… He takes a lot of pages on the story of the wine makers, which is interesting but too much detailed. The judgement itself has much less space, and I think the author could have taken it longer. After the judgment and its repercussion the author takes a lot more on considerations on all world regions…br /It is all interesting, but I had bought the book for the Paris judgement, not for the author’s opinion on South African wines.
Reviewed by :-
Brian J. Kile
Judgment of Paris: California vs. France and the Historic 1976 Paris Tasting That Revolutionized Wine
Loved the historical recount of the land, the wineries and the wine makers, didn’t love the superfluous progression of modern wine closing chapters.