90 M A R C H / A P R I L 2 0 1 3 47 Napa Valley Vintner Miljenko “Mike” Grgich will celebrate his 90th birthday this year. To honor Grgich’s achievements, the winery will release its first-ever “Paris Tasting” Chardonnay at a special gala at the winery on April 13, and celebrate with events throughout the year. Grgich’s life sounds like a Hollywood movie— journeying from a peasant upbringing in communist Yugoslavia, to winemaker winning the Paris Tasting, and then becoming a winery owner in the Napa Valley. Grgich arrived in the Napa Valley in 1958, after a four year journey from Croatia, and worked for some of Napa’s iconic wineries, Souverain, Christian Brothers, Beaulieu Vineyards and Robert Mondavi Winery, before becoming winemaker at Chateau Montelena. At Montelena he crafted the Chardonnay that beat the best white wines in France in the now-famous 1976 Paris Tasting, helping to shatter the myth that only French soil could produce the world’s greatest wines and drawing international attention to Napa Valley wines. On Independence Day 1977, Grgich and Austin Hills broke ground in Rutherford to build Grgich Hills Cellar. Since starting Grgich Hills, Grgich has continued receiving international awards for his wines and has been recognized for being a leader in sustainable vineyard practices. Grgich celebrated his 50th year of making wine in 2008, the same year he was inducted into the Vintners Hall of Fame. Today, all of Grgich Hills’ 366 acres are farmed naturally, without artificial pesticides or herbicides, and are certified organic. The winery has converted to solar power and is completely estate grown. Grgich’s influence has been so far-reaching that his famous beret, the suitcase he carried to America, and a bottle of the 1973 Chardonnay that won the Paris Tasting are on display in the Smithsonian National Museum of American History’s first major exhibition on food history, “Food: Transforming the American Table 1950–2000.” In addition, a Croatian TV documentary about his life, “Like the Old Vine,” premiered at the Napa Valley Film Festival in November 2012. Visit www.grgich.com to see all of the winery’s events, including a special gala on April 13, and the inaugural release of the Paris Tasting Chardonnay, crafted by Grgich in the same style as the Chardonnay that won the 1976 Paris Tasting. Given Grgich’s proven track record of creating elegant wines that improve with age, this Chardonnay is sure to become a collectable. The winery will launch a birthday cake decorating contest, with the chance to win a trip to Napa Valley and celebrate Grgich’s 90 years of accomplishments with the famed winemaker. Today, this iconic winery uses its passion and art to handcraft food-friendly, balanced and elegant wines. Grgich is assisted by his daughter, Violet Grgich, Vice President of Operations, and his nephew, Ivo Jeramaz, Vice President of Vineyards and Production. For more information, visit www.grgich.com. a full Miljenko “Mike” Grgich celebrates his 90th birthday Grgich’s passport photo when he left Croatia at 30 years old. Grgich worked at Beaulieu Vineyard from 1959 to 1968.
NVLife_MarApr_2013
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