May 24, 1976: The greatest underdog tale in wine history (more) Today in History—May 24: The Day American Wines Dethroned France Written by Michele Metych Michele Metych is the lead editor for Today in History at Encyclopædia Britannica. Michele Metych Fact-checked by Britannica Editors Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree.... Britannica Editors Last updated May 19, 2026 •History On this day in 1976 an Englishman living in Paris threw America a birthday party. The menu: wine. Today in History is a daily newsletter from Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. Want to learn more about what happened on May 24, or any other day of the year? Sign up to receive the newsletter in your inbox every morning. Steven Spurrier, owner of L’Académie du Vin wine school, had recently been meeting a lot of American...

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