'THE 1976 REDO' Wine Competition is Calling All American Wineries

The Judgement of Paris is often referenced when giving context on the importance of the Napa Valley, or making the argument that California wines should be respected the same way as classic French wines. There was a film made about it ( Bottle Shock , 2008) and the competition is owed it's due, thanks to many years of boom in the California wine industry, following the surprising showing that CA wines had on the world stage. That's why it's so incredible that three wine industry professionals have joined forces to announce The 1976 Redo —a friendly wine competition that aims to raise awareness for independent wine producers across the United States and for the American wine industry as a whole. Submissions are open, and any American winery, whether a legacy or young up-and-coming brand, that produces Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc, or Syrah is invited to participate. The deadline for submissions is June 21 at 11:59 p.m. ET.

In its inaugural year and in conjunction with 48 ^th anniversary of the 1976 Judgement of Paris and the upcoming Olympic Games in Paris, The 1976 Redo is led by Josh Entman, Founder and CEO of Vinohead , Patrick Cappiello, Owner and Winemaker at Monte Rio Cellars and Pax Mahle, Owner and Winemaker at Pax Wines . The complete panel of judges will be announced in the coming weeks. The first round of blind tastings will take place at The Barlow Market in Sebastopol, Calif., later this summer. Finalists that are selected from each varietal will be selected to go on to compete against French wines at the main event this fall. The 1976 Redo team has plans for a greater series of American wine competitions to promote the diversity and uniqueness that goes beyond the traditional varietals that have historically been produced in America.

“ Forty-eight years after the pivotal Judgment of Paris wine tasting put American wines on the map, we’re gearing up for a renewed showdown with our legendary French rivals to showcase the new generation of American winemaking ,” explained Entman. “ Our goal all along has been to raise awareness for the American wine industry while fostering a sense of community and camaraderie in an otherwise competitive landscape .”

The 1976 Redo organizational partners have put together an impressive list of prominent U.S. winemakers and reputable wine industry professionals to create the new competition and its one that pays homage to the spirit of the original 1976 Paris tasting, but that will further showcase the incredible wines that are being produced in the U.S. today.

“ This is just the beginning of a series of blind tasting events that will showcase the hard work of American winemakers and the diversity that their wines are offering to a younger generation of wine drinkers ,” said Mahle.

There is a $15 administration fee for each wine submission. The 1976 Redo submission guidelines and form can be found here . All U.S. based wineries that qualify are encouraged to participate. Each winery is allowed to submit one wine per qualifying varietal that they believe best represents their brand and has a fighting chance to square off in the finals against rival French bottles. Fees assist with the production of the tasting event.

“ We want this to be a fun and impactful moment for the American wine industry, so we launched The 1976 Redo to spark new interest and celebrate American winemaking. This is a friendly competition that provides an opportunity for U.S. producers of any size to gain widespread recognition ,” said Cappiello.

For more information and a list of FAQs, please visit the76redo.com