On May 24, 1976, British wine merchant Steven Spurrier assembled eleven French experts in Paris for a blind taste testing of top chardonnays & cabernet sauvignons from France and California. In an event that came to be known as the Judgement of Paris, the wines of California beat their French rivals.
   This was the beginning of general acceptance of what California winemakers already knew: California wines can hold their own with the best wines anywhere.

JUDGMENT OF PARIS, artist’s representation. (Photographers were not present.)

Two views of the vineyards at David Bruce Winery in Los Gatos, California.