The Judgement of Paris 50 Years On

2026-06-15

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Fifty years on from the historic Paris tasting that revolutionised wine - what's changed? And what will that mean for the next 50 years?!Those are the searching questions we're asking (and attempting to answer) in this special episode to mark the 50th anniversary of the legendary Judgement of Paris tasting in 1976 where unknown Californian wines triumphed against the French greats in the centre of the wine universe at the time, the capital of France.We're re-telling the story behind...

Fifty years on from the historic Paris tasting that revolutionised wine - what's changed? And what will that mean for the next 50 years?!

Those are the searching questions we're asking (and attempting to answer) in this special episode to mark the 50th anniversary of the legendary Judgement of Paris tasting in 1976 where unknown Californian wines triumphed against the French greats in the centre of the wine universe at the time, the capital of France.

We're re-telling the story behind that momentous event - partly to clear up some misconceptions that still persist, and partly because it's just a damn good story. (Proof of that being all the many articles and books on the subject - not to mention the Hollywood film, Bottle Shock, and now even an opera...)

We're helped in this task by Chateau Montelena CEO Bo Barrett, who adds his eye-witness testimony, trademark good humour and intriguing insights to the tale.

But this episode isn't just a re-hashing of events half a century ago. We're also exploring the modern realities and future trends of wine. If this kind of tasting happened today, who would win, and who would lose? How has the world (and wine world) changed since 1976? How does that go beyond the US and France? And what can that tell us about the future of wine?

Helping us root our thoughts in informed reality are two ambitious tasting we were lucky enough to participate in: the Greatest Chardonnay Showdown at the London Wine Fair 2026, and the IWFS Judgement +50 (among a few others). The results of which...are intriguing.

Thanks for tuning in. We love to hear from you so please do get in touch! Send us a voice message via Speakpipe. Or you can find all details from this episode, including links, references and photos, on our website: Show notes for Wine Blast S7 E29 - The Judgement of Paris 50 Years On

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