Judgement +50: A Retrial of a Wine Tasting Verdict that Changed History

In 1976, a blind tasting - since nicknamed the 'Judgement of Paris'

- pitted top French wines against Californian upstarts.

Shockingly, the upstarts won.

Fifty years on, we're staging a retrial.

This time, it's France against the world.

What You'll Do On The Night

Like 50 years ago, you'll blind taste two flights of wine - Chardonnays and Bordeaux Blends.

To reflect today’s broad wine world, we've expanded beyond a California vs France head-to-head tasting. French wines will now face off against entrants from North and South America, South Africa and Oceania.

You'll score the wines according to a pre-set guide.

We'll compile the scores across hundreds of tasters in all locations.

The rankings will be announced on May 24, 2026.
No expertise is required. All you need is a palate and an opinion

A cold buffet of charcuterie and cheese is included as well as your entry to The Printworks in Leeds.

On May 24, 1976, British wine merchant Steven Spurrier assembled several elite French palates in Paris for a blind wine tasting. It pitted top French red Bordeaux and white Burgundies against little-known California Cabernet Sauvignons and Chardonnays.

Unbelievably, the top scoring wines were Californian - from Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars and Chateau Montelena. A publicity stunt became a seismic shift: proof that greatness wasn’t confined to Europe.

The result legitimised New World regions and democratized prestige. Napa Valley and other regions weren't just curiosities - they could be world-class.

The event inspired books by George Taber and a major 2008 film called 'Bottle Shock' starring Alan Rickman, Bill Pullman and Chris Pine.

No other single event in history has catalysed more change in the wine industry.

Join us for an unforgettable evening!

Your trully,

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