Post by Paul Kalemkiarian

Name: If it wasn't for George Taber...all of our careers would be different. I know my connection to the i
Uploaded: 2025-09-18T22:59:19.464Z
Channel: Paul Kalemkiarian
Description: If it wasn't for George Taber...all of our careers would be different. I know my connection to the industry would be much less connected, much less story telling. George Taber was the only journalis

Host of Wine Talks with Paul K.; Over 17,000,000 bottles sold. Over 100,000 wines tasted.

If it wasn't for George Taber...all of our careers would be different. I know my connection to the industry would be much less connected, much less story telling. George Taber was the only journalist to show up to the Judgement of Paris. The only American allowed in the room. And he could have easily just said "..eh, the Americans are going to lose, I'll go stroll Champs-Élysées, maybe there is a French woman who wants to meet an American" But he did the right thing and went to the Intercontinental Hotel on the fateful day in May in 1976. This single decision changed his career and put George on the journalistic map. For me, Wine Talks has numerous connections to the story. 1.) The Barrett family were customers of our store and might suggest the wine they bought to celebrate most likely came from the shop, 2.) Warren Winiarski slept in my brothers room on a visit to the SoCal wine market, 3.) Patricia Gestaud, Steven Spurriers partner in crime with the tasting had a sister who lived in Palos Verdes and fancied herself as a friend of the wine shop, 4.) I used to surf with the youngest Barrett, though I don't think we was impressed with my skills...and other stories I can tell. For the rest of the industry, this set the path for the acceptance of California wine to be on the world stage. Though it still took many years for Chateau Montelena to become self sustaining and Jim Barrett to retire from his law practice and move to Napa, it set the wheels in motion for promoters like Robert Mondavi to take the helm. Apple: https://lnkd.in/g68b_DZc Spotify: https://lnkd.in/gqWghhgg YouTube: https://lnkd.in/gMMmbtBP Wine Talks: https://lnkd.in/gyr7r8Ua #WineTalks #JudgmentOfParis #CaliforniaWine #FrenchWine #GeorgeTaber #StevenSpurrier #ChateauMontelena #StagsLeapWineCellars #NapaValley #WineHistory #WineTasting #WineEducation #BlindTasting #WineIndustry #PodcastInterview #WineStorytelling #WineCulture #CorkHistory #FrenchLifestyle #NewWorldWines Time Magazine Website: https://time.com (Armen refers to working as a journalist at Time magazine.) Chateau Montelena Website: https://www.montelena.com (Referenced in the discussion about the Judgment of Paris tasting.) Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars Website: https://www.cask23.com (Mentioned as one of the winning wineries in the Judgment of Paris.) Charles Krug Winery Website: https://lnkd.in/gKdujC5G (Referenced in a story about being poured at an event with President Eisenhower.) Sebastiani Vineyards & Winery Website: https://www.sebastiani.com (Mentioned when Paul recalls stocking the shelves.) Ackerman Wines Website: https://lnkd.in/gkw_i9gP (Ackerman, a major New York wine retailer, is referenced.) St. Francis Winery & Vineyards Website: https://lnkd.in/gQTaQUNp (Discussed in context of early synthetic cork usage.) Barefoot Cellars Website: https://lnkd.in/gw_SQCUv (Mentioned regarding synthetic corks.) Taylor Wine Company (Taylor Cellars) Website: https://www.taylorwine.com

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