May 14 – Steven Spurrier, Bottle Shock, Mike Grgich – 35 years ago!
A great show this week to begin the 35th Anniversary Celebration of the famous Paris wine tasting in 1976 that changed the wine world forever!
My first guest, the man the put the famous tasting together; Mr. Steven Spurrier.
In the early 70’s, hooked on fine wine after a grand tour of Frances most important cellars, he moved to Paris and purchased a tiny wine shop off the Rue Royale. Being run by an Englishman, Caves de la Madeleine became increasingly famous and specialised in hand-picked bottles from only the finest growers. Spurrier soon took over the premises next door to give wine classes in English at L’Académie du Vin. To promote his wine shoppe he set up a comparative tasting of France’s greatest wines with some new unheard of Napa wines, inviting some of France’s most celebrated palates to judge them blind. They promptly, much to everyone’s surprise, preferred California to France. While not the intended outcome, these unknown Napa wines astounded the judges. George Taber, Time magazine reporter and the only journalist who attended the tasting, spread the word with his article “The Judgement of Paris.” The Global wine market would never be the same.
Then I’ll be talking to the Producer/Director/Writer husband & wife team, Randy Miller and Jody Savin. This is the couple who made the move “Bottle Shock.” Not intended to be a documentary of the famous Paris tasting, but a slice of the fledgling Napa wine busines as seen through the eyes of a few of the key players from Chateau Montelena. Randy and Jody will be in Wichita for the May 28 “Bottle Shock – Judgment of Wichita” AIWF event at the historic Orpheum theatre.
Learn more about this event and make reservations.
We finish the program with the winemaker who made the 1974 Chateau Montelina Chardonnay that was the hit of the Paris Tasting; Miljenko “Mike” Grgich. A legend in the Napa Valley, over the past 50 years, Mike’s wines, crafted in the classic Old World tradition, have won a stream of California and international prizes, establishing Grgich Hills Estate as one of the premier wineries in the U.S. and the world.
Check out this great video about Mike and his journey in wine!
Good Life Guy’s wine of the Week:
2008 Grgich Hills Napa Chardonnay 🙂
Crafted from grapes that were certified organic and Biodynamic, our Chardonnay did not undergo malolactic fermentation, preserving its wonderful acidity. This wine displays aromas of orange blossom honey and toasted almonds with a hint of tropical fruit and crushed stone on the finish. Match this Chardonnay’s elegant style with poached salmon, roasted chicken, grilled pork, or creamy cheeses.
Pick up a bottle at Jacob Liquor Exchange…
…taste one of the finest chardonnays from Napa.
