The ''Académie du Vin'' was established in Paris in 1973 by Steven Spurrier as France's first private wine school. It is associated with the 1976

Judgement of Paris Judgement (or US spelling judgment) is also known as ''adjudication'', which means the evaluation of evidence to make a decision. Judgement is also the ability to make considered decisions. The term has at least five distinct uses. Aristotle ...

blind wine tasting Blinded wine tasting is wine tasting undertaken in circumstances in which the tasters are kept unaware of the wines' identities. The blind approach is routine for wine professionals ( wine tasters, sommeliers and others) who wish to ensure impart ...

which brought international recognition to

California wine California wine production has a rich viticulture history since 1680 when Spanish Jesuit missionaries planted ''Vitis vinifera'' vines native to the Mediterranean region in their established missions to produce wine for religious services. I ...

s and viticulture in the

New World The term ''New World'' is often used to mean the majority of Earth's Western Hemisphere, specifically the Americas."America." ''The Oxford Companion to the English Language'' (). McArthur, Tom, ed., 1992. New York: Oxford University Press, p. ...

History

Spurrier had opened the Caves de la Madeleine, a wine store in 1970. In 1973, he partnered with International Herald Tribune writer Jon Winroth and

Patricia Gallagher Patricia Gastaud-Gallagher was a director at the Académie du Vin, a impetus, with Steven Spurrier, behind the 1976 Judgment of Paris wine tasting event and participated as one of its eleven judges. She was also on the Copia panel that oversaw ...

to open the school in a former locksmith shop adjacent to his store. Its original mission was to teach wine appreciation to ex-patriate British and Americans living in France with English-speaking instruction. However, when Parisians' interest grew, French-speaking courses were provided.

Judgment of Paris

The ''Académie du Vin'' was an early consideration for hosting the 1976 Judgment of Paris tasting. As more interest grew in the event it was eventually deemed too small.

References

External links

Académie du Vin

{{Authority control Educational institutions established in 1973 Wine industry organizations 1973 establishments in France