The Judgment of Paris • Synopsis
After a lovers’ tryst with Venus, Bacchus toasts to ecstasy with a fine French wine, as always. This time it’s a Bordeaux he found at the Académie du Vin in Paris. Bored with the “same old same old,” Venus yearns for fresh adventures, tastes and discoveries. He argues that nothing will ever equal or exceed the French classics and storms off. Determined to prove him wrong, Venus sets off to Paris.
At the Académie du Vin, proprietors Steven Spurrier and Patricia Gallagher surprise their customers with an extraordinary California wine. They speak of an event planned for a few weeks hence: a wine tasting to celebrate 200 years of friendship between France and America during its bicentennial year. It will be a blind tasting of premium French and California wines judged by a top panel of French experts, including the feared and revered Odette Kahn. Overjoyed, Venus decides the event must happen. Steven and Patricia fly to California that very night.
In Napa, they are greeted by their friend Joanne who introduces them to winemakers Mike Grgich and Warren Winiarski. They sing of the miracle of wine and go on a tasting tour through Northern California where they select three cases of red and white for the Paris tasting. Miraculously, thanks to Joanne, the wine makes it to Paris in time.
Meanwhile, determined to assure a French victory, Bacchus tries to coerce Odette Kahn, editor of La Revue du Vin de France. He tells her she owes everything to him. Deeply offended by his implication, Odette assures him she knows the difference between French wines and the “swill” from California. Venus makes a surprise entrance and calls out Bacchus on his devious scheme. They agree that the contest will be fair. It’s time to find out who will hold the night. Who will win the day.
The rest, as they say, is history.