Next Wine Tasting of Triangle Chapter, American Wine Society

The Triangle Chapter of the American Wine Society Presents

A Celebration of the 50th Anniversary
of the Judgment of Paris Tasting

Sunday, May 17, 2026
3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Location: Home of Jeff Price and Lisa Tillis, Zebulon

Presenter: Jeff Price

Cartoon image of judges at a table sipping wine

(Image from "The Judgment of Paris" on Christopher Stewart's website)

Do names like Mouton Rothschild, Haut Brion, Stags Leap, Chateau Montelena ring a bell and/or stir your spirit of wine discovery? In 1976, the US wine industry was still recovering from the impact of Prohibition and World War II and US wines were regarded throughout the world as nothing more than cow urine. The wine world revolved around French wines. On May 24 of that year, a wine tasting was held in Paris, France that matched California wines against the giants of the French wine world. The setting was French and the judges were French. The results of the tasting stunned the entire world and have been universally referred to ever since as "The Judgment of Paris." This singular event created a world market for US wines and, just like the glass slipper made Cinderella a Princess, the Judgment of Paris tasting made American wines a Prince! The historical significance of this event cannot be understated.

Fifty years later, the Triangle Chapter of the American Wine Society will honor this event with a near replication of this 1976 tasting. We will taste and judge the same wines as those French judges did 50 years ago (well, almost - there were 20 wines in 1976, there will be slightly fewer in 2026 and we will not taste the same vintages). This 50th anniversary tasting will move back across the Atlantic Ocean and take place in Zebulon, a slightly less well known location than Paris, and the judges will be the AWS members who choose to participate in this event. Will one of those judges be you?

We encourage AWS members to read George Taber's book, The Judgment of Paris or view the film, "Bottle Shock," (if you haven't already). ["Bottle Shock" is free on Plex and PlutoTV.] Either and/or both will certainly pique your interest in this historical event. We invite members to step back into 1976 and join us for something very special! Feel free to dress accordingly, either French or American, and enjoy a once in a lifetime wine tasting experience!

Attendance is limited, so enroll early if you are interested in attending. Members please register by Wednesday, May 13, 2026.

Chapter members get first shot at enrollment. If seats are still available, enrollment will be available to those on the guest list and non-members who respond to the Secretary expressing interest.