1.
GV Hotel wine bar.
0.05

2.
SV and CU American wines on display (4 shots)
0.19

3.
SV wine poured into glasses.
0.27

4.
SV and CU tasters judging wines (5 shots)
1.17



Initials RH/1537 RH/AB/JB/1551



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: Top quality wines from the U.S.A., produced in vineyards in California, were tasted by ten of France's most distinguished wine tasters in Paris, France on Monday (24 May).

The wine tasting was to honour of one of America's early presidents, Thomas Jefferson, and marked the American bicentennial being celebrated this year.

The wines were selected from vineyards all over California and were shipped to Paris three weeks ago. The tasting was limited to Chardonnay and Cabernet-Sauvignon varieties.

To add to the interest French wines of the same grape varieties were inserted in the testing, including Grands Crus of Bordequx and Burgundy.

Each person on the tasting jury was asked to note the wines for colour, bouquet, palate and harmony and to give up to 20 points.

It was not a competitive tasting but an opportunity to acknowledge that a young vineyard area such as that in California can produce top quality wines given the same interest, skill and money that has been lavished on European vineyards for centuries.

The tasting was organised by the French Wine Academy and Californian wine growers.