Episode
How the Judgment of Paris Changed the World of Wine with Stephen Spurrier
- Podcast
- Wine Talks with Paul K.
- Published
- May 4, 2026
- Duration seconds
- 3503
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Summary
He changed everything...without a clue on what can of worms he was going to open. Steven Spurrier, the architect of the Judgement of Paris, checked in with Wine Talks to tell his and it's story. He passed only weeks after. Stephen Spurrier was never just a spectator in the world of wine—he was the host who re-sorted the guest list, rewrote the rules, and decanted a whole new future for California and beyond. In this episode of Wine Talks, you'll hear firsthand how one Englishman's curiosity and courage upended centuries of French dominance and invited America to the table. Spurrier's journey, as recounted to Paul K, is laced with wit and candor: from his early days as an "independent younger brother" joining the London wine scene, to his adventurous leap to Paris where he found not only love, but the seeds of a movement that would blossom into the historic Judgment of Paris. Each anecdote bubbles over with the energy of a man unafraid to say "why not?" and willing to challenge everything for the sheer joy of discovery. A glass in hand, you'll travel alongside Spurrier as he navigates the peculiarities and prejudices of Parisian wine culture, reinvents himself as a merchant and educator, and eventually pulls off a tasting so legendary that its aftershocks are still felt today. Revelations abound—not just about the logistics and emotions behind May 24, 1976, but about the characters, the stakes, and the unintended consequences for both the icons of Bordeaux and the upstart producers of Napa Valley. As the story unfolds, you'll hear how a spirit of risk, trust in communication, and a belief in honest storytelling led to a blind tasting that didn't just surprise critics, but also rebalanced the global map of wine quality and perception. But this episode uncorks far more th…