I loved the scene with Alan Rickman was just sitting there surrounded by a bunch of open bottles he's been tasting, and he looks kind of stunned and a little drunk and says in amazement something like "All these wines . . . they're so good."
I enjoyed when he asked passengers boarding the plane to Paris to carry two bottles each because the airline wouldn’t let him bring them all on himself.
The 1976 Judgment of Paris was actually a private event hosted by Steven Spurrier and the Merchant Wine Company, not an official state competition. Spurrier famously drank a glass of Château Montelena after winning, and that bottle was reportedly worth less than a pound sterling at the time.
It’s a better watch with wine and a nice spread. Movie is a solid C+\B- imo. ‘The judgement of Paris’ by Taber is a good read on the events in the movie, very detailed look into all the vineyards included in the judging.
Edit: I reread my own comment, man do I sound like an over informed Reddit prick. My regards
I just re-watched it a couple weeks ago. It's an enjoyable movie but you should be warned about the casting.
Someone made the unfortunate error of casting one of the worst wigs in cinema history and paired it with the head of one of the leads. The wig's performance is so unsettlingly bad that it often feels like the movie was intended as a comedy. Not that the wig's performance is funny. It's the complete opposite. The wig is so bad it utterly fails at being a wig and turns in a role worthy of a Lifetime Achievement Razzie Award for a single performance. The actor who was forced to act with the wig did a reason job, all things considered.
Oh and Alan Rickman was awesome as usual. As was Dennis Farina.
If I had a nickel for each time Frenchs and Americans competed in Paris to showcase their skills in a particular industry, and ended up upending France's dominance of said industry, I'd have 2 nickels. Which... well you know
To be fair, while I can find Californian wine in Western Europe very easily, I wouldn't have a clue if there's even Wisconsin cheese for sale at all over here.
Rarely, partially due to Wisconsin showing a complete disregard for D.O.P. And other protected terms, they will happily make Parmigiano Reggiano, Asiago, Fontina, Gorgonzola, Gorgonzola Dolce, Grana Padano, Manchego, Feta, Roquefort, Pecorino, Taleggio, Stilton, Danablu, Havarti and more, they taste great but I'm sure figuring out how to import and rebrand that is difficult.
The other question would be why bother? Europe is awash in the high quality originals, Wisconsin can stay plenty busy serving the proximate continent.
Finally Europe food standards look poorly at dairy treated with rBST / rBGH (Recombinant Bovine Somatotropin / Bovine Growth Hormone) - so it would have to be certified which is possible but a whole extra barrier.
From Wisconsin living in Europe, you aren't missing anything except for Colby jack, spread cheese and cheese curds. Real Italian parmigiano reggiano is a pricy luxury good once it makes it's way to the states, so the excelllent Wisconsin domestic alternative just brings it down to what we pay for Italian at Aldi in Europe.
There are in fact some incredible artisanal cheeses from Wisconsin and all over the country. I used to cheesemonger at a touristy joint in Chicago, and would regularly show snobby Europeans what’s what.
In fact, my favorite cheese in the world is made just south of Madison.
We wouldn't know, it's not sold anywhere near me. I have difficulty enough getter interesting Norwegian and Spanish cheeses here to the Netherlands. I wouldn't know where to begin searching for US cheese.
I'll remember to put in more effort once the political situation allows it.
I wonder if that partially reflects a general disdain for American goods, because the reverse definitely isn't true. The little cheese shop near my office has tons of great European options, I'm particularly partial to Swedish Wrangeback.
It’s called the Judgement of Paris, a title given to it weeks after the competition ended, that has nothing to do with the city, Paris.
The Judgement of Paris references Paris who was made by Zeus to judge which of 3 goddesses deserved a golden apple. Paris chose Aphrodite, was rewarded with the love of Helen of Troy and his involvement in the competition led to legendary destruction.
Why is always "little known" when It's the most famous event in that field of history? The Judgement of Paris is absurdly well-known if you know anything whatsoever about wine.
It was put on by a British wine merchant, Steven Spurrier, as a marketing stunt. And also that was a very low time for the French wine market, coming off of the Bordeaux wine scandals. There’s really no reason why it would have been anything more than a fun little exercise if not for the French getting so mad about seeing what they’d cast their own votes for.
Well, from what (cheaper) versions of wines are available down here in Eastern Europe, French beat Californian ones every time I try any. Spanish and Italian available here, not generally so much.
That said, Chilean, New Zealand and Australian ones can give them a run for their money easily.
thoselongsleeves | 6 hours ago
Bottle Shock ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bottle_Shock ) is a good movie about this.
Negative_Gravitas | 6 hours ago
Beat me to it!
I loved the scene with Alan Rickman was just sitting there surrounded by a bunch of open bottles he's been tasting, and he looks kind of stunned and a little drunk and says in amazement something like "All these wines . . . they're so good."
BitPoet | 5 hours ago
My favorite is when he gets offered a bowl of chips and guac.
supershinythings | 4 hours ago
I enjoyed when he asked passengers boarding the plane to Paris to carry two bottles each because the airline wouldn’t let him bring them all on himself.
And they did.
OkAppearance2105 | 2 hours ago
The 1976 Judgment of Paris was actually a private event hosted by Steven Spurrier and the Merchant Wine Company, not an official state competition. Spurrier famously drank a glass of Château Montelena after winning, and that bottle was reportedly worth less than a pound sterling at the time.
venus_arises | an hour ago
The KFC bucket of chicken kills me everytime.
Vaulters | 6 hours ago
Great cast, I had never heard of this movie. Will have to find it.
bartonkt | 6 hours ago
It’s a better watch with wine and a nice spread. Movie is a solid C+\B- imo. ‘The judgement of Paris’ by Taber is a good read on the events in the movie, very detailed look into all the vineyards included in the judging.
Edit: I reread my own comment, man do I sound like an over informed Reddit prick. My regards
BarbequedYeti | 3 hours ago
>I reread my own comment, man do I sound like an over informed Reddit prick. My regards
I appreciated the insight. Also agree the movie is better with a spread and good company.
BeerdedRNY | 2 hours ago
I just re-watched it a couple weeks ago. It's an enjoyable movie but you should be warned about the casting.
Someone made the unfortunate error of casting one of the worst wigs in cinema history and paired it with the head of one of the leads. The wig's performance is so unsettlingly bad that it often feels like the movie was intended as a comedy. Not that the wig's performance is funny. It's the complete opposite. The wig is so bad it utterly fails at being a wig and turns in a role worthy of a Lifetime Achievement Razzie Award for a single performance. The actor who was forced to act with the wig did a reason job, all things considered.
Oh and Alan Rickman was awesome as usual. As was Dennis Farina.
LADrs76 | an hour ago
Alan Rickman and Denis Farina ARE this movie to me. Their characters and banter are both....so good.
spankybianky | 48 minutes ago
It’s on Prime in the UK, just added to my watch list
lartkma | 4 hours ago
If I had a nickel for each time Frenchs and Americans competed in Paris to showcase their skills in a particular industry, and ended up upending France's dominance of said industry, I'd have 2 nickels. Which... well you know
xxwarlorddarkdoomxx | 3 hours ago
Europeans still haven’t fully come to terms with Wisconsin’s cheese being among the best
Attygalle | 3 hours ago
To be fair, while I can find Californian wine in Western Europe very easily, I wouldn't have a clue if there's even Wisconsin cheese for sale at all over here.
aywwts4 | 2 hours ago
Rarely, partially due to Wisconsin showing a complete disregard for D.O.P. And other protected terms, they will happily make Parmigiano Reggiano, Asiago, Fontina, Gorgonzola, Gorgonzola Dolce, Grana Padano, Manchego, Feta, Roquefort, Pecorino, Taleggio, Stilton, Danablu, Havarti and more, they taste great but I'm sure figuring out how to import and rebrand that is difficult.
The other question would be why bother? Europe is awash in the high quality originals, Wisconsin can stay plenty busy serving the proximate continent.
Finally Europe food standards look poorly at dairy treated with rBST / rBGH (Recombinant Bovine Somatotropin / Bovine Growth Hormone) - so it would have to be certified which is possible but a whole extra barrier.
From Wisconsin living in Europe, you aren't missing anything except for Colby jack, spread cheese and cheese curds. Real Italian parmigiano reggiano is a pricy luxury good once it makes it's way to the states, so the excelllent Wisconsin domestic alternative just brings it down to what we pay for Italian at Aldi in Europe.
groovemonkeyzero | an hour ago
There are in fact some incredible artisanal cheeses from Wisconsin and all over the country. I used to cheesemonger at a touristy joint in Chicago, and would regularly show snobby Europeans what’s what.
In fact, my favorite cheese in the world is made just south of Madison.
Hugenicklebackfan | 50 minutes ago
Not the point. You start claiming to make champagne and people will call you out.
PresumedSapient | 3 hours ago
We wouldn't know, it's not sold anywhere near me. I have difficulty enough getter interesting Norwegian and Spanish cheeses here to the Netherlands. I wouldn't know where to begin searching for US cheese.
I'll remember to put in more effort once the political situation allows it.
royalhawk345 | 3 hours ago
I wonder if that partially reflects a general disdain for American goods, because the reverse definitely isn't true. The little cheese shop near my office has tons of great European options, I'm particularly partial to Swedish Wrangeback.
MaidPoorly | 2 hours ago
It’s called the Judgement of Paris, a title given to it weeks after the competition ended, that has nothing to do with the city, Paris.
The Judgement of Paris references Paris who was made by Zeus to judge which of 3 goddesses deserved a golden apple. Paris chose Aphrodite, was rewarded with the love of Helen of Troy and his involvement in the competition led to legendary destruction.
Super901 | 5 hours ago
Why is always "little known" when It's the most famous event in that field of history? The Judgement of Paris is absurdly well-known if you know anything whatsoever about wine.
PerpetuallyLurking | 4 hours ago
Because the entire field of “wine history” is little known among the general public, never mind a singular event within the field of study.
gbbmiler | 4 hours ago
The judgment of Paris is more famous than the field of wine history is, despite being part of that field.
JustHereForMiatas | an hour ago
The way that they use "little known" here strongly implies that it's not well known even among those in the wine industry.
They also say that it's in Paris, which is false.
boringhistoryfan | 2 hours ago
I'd go so far as to say its relatively unknown even to historians. The history of a specific item is always going to be relatively niche.
7355135061550 | 5 hours ago
I doubt most people know much at all about that field of history
MorganWick | 3 hours ago
https://xkcd.com/2501/
Super901 | 3 hours ago
there's always an xkcd
erossthescienceboss | 4 hours ago
At the time, it was little-known. Only one reporter came (American) and the French aggressively downplayed it.
EggCzar | 3 hours ago
It was put on by a British wine merchant, Steven Spurrier, as a marketing stunt. And also that was a very low time for the French wine market, coming off of the Bordeaux wine scandals. There’s really no reason why it would have been anything more than a fun little exercise if not for the French getting so mad about seeing what they’d cast their own votes for.
Farnso | 3 hours ago
Have had my fair share of wine and never knew this.
phatelectribe | an hour ago
They also made a pretty successful movie about it too lol.
Aranka_Szeretlek | 4 hours ago
Well, its known between US-Americans who are really proud of that one time! The rest of us dont care.
SeeShark | 2 hours ago
It's only "that one time" if there are any counterexamples. For now, it's a 100% winrate, babyyyyy
MidnightPale3220 | an hour ago
Well, from what (cheaper) versions of wines are available down here in Eastern Europe, French beat Californian ones every time I try any. Spanish and Italian available here, not generally so much.
That said, Chilean, New Zealand and Australian ones can give them a run for their money easily.