Join Napa Valley Legend and Hall of Fame Vintner Mike Grgich at Morgans in the desert
Friday, March 12th, 2010 - 6-9pm
Miljenko ‘Mike’ Grgich was born in Croatia, one of 11 children. He studied winemaking and viticulture at the University of Zagreb and then had to leave to escape communism. He eventually arrived in the Napa Valley in August 1958, just in time for crush to begin.
Mike's most celebrated achievement came in 1976 when a Chardonnay he crafted for Chateau Montelena beat the very best wines in France in a now famous blind tasting in Paris. This event that stunned the wine world catapulted the Napa Valley into the front ranks of the leading wine-producing regions of the world. "For years, everybody in the world believed that only French soils could produce great wines," Mike explains. "We shattered that myth. That was probably the most significant result of the Paris tasting. Our victory pumped new energy into the California wine industry, particularly in the Napa Valley, and it energized winemakers in many other parts of the world, such as Argentina and Chile. They realized that if we could do it, so could they."
Today the Grgich Hills Estate in Napa Valley (http://www.grgich.com) remains family owned and operated with Mike assisted by his daughter, Violet Grgich, who is Vice President of Operations, and his nephew, Ivo Jeramaz, who is Vice President of Vineyards and Production.
The five Grgich Hills vineyards are certified organic and Biodynamic. The holistic farming practice uses the earth’s cycles and natural preparations to grow balanced, healthy vines without artificial fertilizers, pesticides or fungicides. The winery has converted to solar power and is completely estate grown.
