STEVEN SPURRIER'S DEATH. 1941 - 2021
The wine world is in shock after received the sad news. If you are outside of the wine industry, you might know him as one of the characters in the 2008 movie, "BOTTLE SHOCK" based on the historic 1976 "Judgment of Paris" tasting, which is largely credited for putting California wines on the top of the map.
He died on March 9th at his home at Bride Valley, the wine state in Dorset, England where he had spent his later years.
"He was a wine merchant. educator, and critic. He farmed grapes and made wine. He formed a publishing house devoted to wine books. And though he was as well versed as anyone alive in the classic wines of Europe.
Steven will be recognized as an even greater influence on wine during his 79 colorful years. He was always very modest and polite.
His famous Paris tasting in 1976 open infinite of possibilities for other wines rather than just French ones.
on 1976, Spurrier was a wine merchant running a shop in Paris that specialized in great wines of France -Burgundy & Bordeaux-. But he decided to visit Napa Valley, at that time was just consider like a farming town. But he thought that those Californian farmers were producing some extra ordinary wines, so he organized a wine tasting back in Paris France. That even, which would be canonized as the "Judgment of Paris" is widely considered the turning point for California, and obviously American Wine.
He will always be remembered for founding the Académie du Vin, The Celebrated Judgment of Paris, and in recent years, The Académie du Vin Library, and, together with his wife Bella, The bride Valley Vineyard in Dorset, England.
THE JUDGMENT OF PARIS
On May 24th, 1976, The Judgment of Paris
It was a blind tasting with some of the finest wines in France against unknown California bottles. Nine of the most respected names in French gastronomy sat in judgment.
Forty five years ago, the Crème de la crème of the French wine sat in a judgment for a blind tasting that changes the vision of some of the finest wines in France against unknown California bottles.
Obviously, the French wines supposed to win'" says George Taber, who was back then a correspondent for Time Magazine in Paris. everyone thought it was not going to be a good story.
Taber did attend, as a favor to the organizers, and he ended to having the most amazing news on his career and in all the wine history. It turn out to be one of the most important event, because "IT BROKE A MYTH" that only in France you could make good wines. This event open the door for all American wines.
Spurrier Tapped nine of the most respected names in France gastronomy for this job:
Pierre Brejoux (French) of the Institute of Appellations of Origin.
Claude Dubois-Millot (French) Substitute to Christian Millau.
Michel Dovaz (French) of the Wine Institute of France.
Patricia Gallagher (American) of Académie du Vin.
Odette Kahn (French) Editor of La Revue du Vin de France.
Raymond Oliver (French) of the Restaurante Le Grand Vefour.
Steven Spurrier (British).
Pierre Tari (French) of Chateau Giscours.
Christian Vanneque (French) the Sommelier of Tour D'Argent
Aubert de Villaine (French) of the Domaine de la Romanee-Conti.
Jean-Claude Vrinat (French) of the Restaurant Taillevent.
Taber had a lot of access, and he had a list of the order of the wines being served during the tasting. The judge didn't. He watched every single detail of the wine tasting, as they swirled and spat. At one point, Taber says, a judge - Raymond Oliver, chef and owner of Le Grand Vefour, one of Paris' great restaurants- sampled a white. "And then he smelled it, then tasted it and he held it up again, he said "AH, BACK TO FRANCE!. Except it was a Napa Valley chardonnay. The judge didn't know that. "But I knew it" Taber says. And once he realized what was happening. Taber says, "I thought, hey, maybe I got a story here."
When the scores where showed, the top Honors went NOT TO France's best vintners but to California white and red.
Chateau Montelena 1973 and
Stag's Leap Wine Cellar, Cabernet Sauvignon 1973.
Taber says-" The result Shocked everyone"- When it was over Kahn unsuccessfully demand her scorecard back, she didn't want the world know what her scores where.
"The 1976 judgment totally changed the Wine History".
in the aftermath of the testing, new vineyards bloomed around the U>S> Oregon, Washington, and Virginia and around the world from Argentina, South Africa to Australia.
R.I.P One of the most icon personalities on the Wine World.
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